34 
CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED. 
The principal avenues, running parallel, are “ Calle San Juan 
de Dio,” “ Calle de Merced,” and “ Calle de Obispo.” There 
are numerous extensive churches, the principal one being the 
cathedral. This is a magnificent structure, and of colossal 
dimensions. In the end fronting the plaza are niches, in which 
are life-size statues of the twelve Apostles, of marble. It has 
two towers, the upper sections of which are finished with pearl. 
The interior was furnished without regard to expense. It is now 
somewhat dilapidated, but still has a fine organ. The convent, 
“La Mugher,”is an extensive edifice, being 300feet in length. 
The roof of most parts has fallen in, and the walls are fast falling 
to decay. The only tenant is a colored woman who has a ham¬ 
mock slung in the main entrance. She has converted the con¬ 
vent into a stable, charging a real a night for a horse or mule 
—they board themselves; they, however, have the privilege 
of selecting their own apartments. It encloses a large court, in 
which there are two immense wells, and numerous fig, and 
other fruit trees. There is a tower still standing on one end of 
the building, without roof or window ; it has, however, several 
bells still hanging. The convent of “ San Francisco,” is also an 
extensive structure, in a dilapidated state; one part of it is still 
tenanted by nuns. It has a tower with bells still hanging. 
These buildings, as well as all the buildings of Panama, are in¬ 
fested by innumerable lizards, a peculiarity of the city that first 
strikes the stranger. They are harmless, but to one unaccus¬ 
tomed to seeing them, are an unpleasant sight. 
The people here, as in all catholic countries,-are very attentive 
to religious rites and ceremonies, and almost every day of the 
week is ushered in by' the ringing of church and convent bells. 
The ringing is constant during the day; and people are seen 
passing to and from church, the more wealthy classes accompanied 
by their servants, bearing mats, upon which they kneel on their 
arrival. Almost every day is a saint’s day, when all business 
is suspended to attend its celebration. 
Good Friday is the most important on the calendar. All 
business is suspended, all attend church during the day, and at 
night they . congregate en masse in the plaza in front of one 
of the churches outside the walls. Inside the church, held by 
a native in Turkish costume, is an ass, mounted on which is a 
