40 
CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED. 
remain dormant, and soon several “bungoes” were “up” for 
California. Schooners of from thirteen to twenty-five tons, 
that had been abandoned as worthless, were soon galvanized, 
by pen and type, into “ the new and fast sailing schooner .” These 
were immediately filled up at from $200 to $300 per ticket, 
passengers finding themselves. In the anxiety to get off, a 
party purchased an iron boat on the Chagres River, carried it 
across to Panama on their shoulders, fitted it out, and sailed 
for California. The first “ bungo” that sailed, after getting out 
into the bay some three or four miles, was struck by a slight 
flaw of wind, dismasted, and obliged to put back for repairs. 
This caused a very perceptible decline in “bungo” stocks. 
Many took passage in the British steamer for Valparaiso, in 
hopes to find conveyance from that port. The passengers of 
one of “ the fast sailing schooners ” when going on board, prepar¬ 
atory to sailing, found that the owners, in their zeal to accom¬ 
modate their countrymen , had sold about three times as many 
tickets as said vessel would carry. Instead of allowing fourteen 
square feet to the man, as the law requires, they appear to have 
taken the exact-dimensions of the passengers, and filled the vessel 
accordingly. The passengers refused to let the captain weigh 
anchor, and sent a deputation on shore to demand the return of 
their money; but lo! the disinterested gentlemen were “non 
est inventus.” After a long search, they succeeded in finding 
one of the worthies, and notwithstanding his disinterested efforts 
in behalf of the public , he was locked up. The captain fearing 
personal violence, left the vessel privately, and for several days 
was nowhere to be found. The passengers, however, entered 
into a compromise with themselves, the first on the list going 
on board. The mate informed the captain and they were soon 
under way. The owner, who had been so persecutingly locked 
up, having formerly been an operator in Wall street, resolved 
to slight the hospitalities of the city, and took his leave when 
the barefooted sentinel wasn’t looking. 
One circumstance that added much to the annoyance of our de¬ 
tention was, that the letters from our friends were all directed to 
San Francisco, and were then lying in the letter-bags at Pa¬ 
nama, but not accessible to us. I felt this annoyance most sensi¬ 
bly. I would have given almost any price for one word of 
