PANAMA—ON SHORE. 
185 
The city, nestling cosily at the base of Cerro Lancon, looks 
enchantingly, her towers and domes being lighted up by the 
morning sun. Her dilapidated monasteries are also seen, and 
her extended wall, the base of which is washed by the gentle 
surf. That distant tower, shrouded in ivy, dripping with the 
morning dew, seems weeping over the tomb of a departed city. 
Everything conspired to awaken emotions of the most romantic 
character. Our captain mounts the quarter deck and cries out, 
“ all hands on deck to work ship.” “ Aye aye, sir.” “ Clue up the 
mainsail ” “ hard a-lee,” “ main-topsail, haul;” “haul taut the 
weather main-braces ;” the ship comes about on the other tack. 
A boat nears us, “ Stand by to throw a rope;” a man comes on 
board; “bout ship,” “stand by the anchor,” “haul down the jib;” 
mate heaves the lead and cries out, “four 'fathom o’ the deep 
ho!” “fore and main-sail, clue up.” We are now standing 
towards the United States’ man-of-war Southampton. “ Let go 
the mizen top-sail braces,” “ stand by,” “let go the anchor,” and 
at 9 A.M., out ship rounded to and bowed submission to her 
chains. We are now at anchor five miles from shore; a fleet 
of bungoes are coming off for the passengers, propelled by na¬ 
tives in their “ dishabille;” all who are able, are prepared to 
debark, but fourteen of our number are confined to their berths 
in a helpless, and almost hopeless condition ; my friend Clark is 
one of the number; the scurvy has rendered his limbs entirely use¬ 
less, and there is no hope entertained of his recovery. We bade 
them farewell, and started for the shore. We looked back at the 
ship, which now presents the trim appearance of a ship close- 
reefed. 
It being ebb-tide our boat went aground half a mile from the 
shore ; our boatmen, however, were prepared for the emergency, 
it being with them an almost daily occurrence; they got out, 
backed up, and wished us to mount. It was to me a novel way 
of riding. I had ridden “ bare-backed,” but always supported 
by a greater number of legs. After sundry stumbles and plunges, 
which kept my clean shirt in imminent peril, I was safely set down 
on shore, for which extra service my noble steed thought a real 
full compensation. I had my trunk carried to the Philadelphia 
Hotel. I drank freely of wine and went out on the balcony, 
which extends from the second story, to enjoy a cigar and my 
