The Panama Fever [pp. 553-561]

THE PAzNAM FE VER.
P. and his friends. Fruit met with selves for a little while, and go through
more ready sale than other articles, but the train to see what the rest are sayoccasionally a passenger could be found ing and doing. It is a singular fact that
driving a bargain with a native for what so few among the passengers who pass
he supposed to be pearls, but which from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean,
were nothing more than imitations find anything to admire in the varied
carved from pearl shell, very pretty and and beautiful scenery of the Isthmus of
having a tendency-to deceive any but a Panama; they can talk of its miserable
practiced eye; many passengers being inhabitants; their dirty hovels and
taken by these worthless articles, only naked children; its fevers and other
finding out their mistake when taking diseases; its venomous reptiles; its
them to a jeweler to be set. This deluge of rain, and everything that is
desire to purchase everything the na- unpleasant about it; but seldom have a
tives on the Isthmus offer for sale, is pleasant word for the numerous beautianother description of Panama fever ful views that are to be seen, especially
that quinine will not reach. The for- between the Chagres River and the
eigners who reside on the Isthmus, Bay of Panama. Nowherescan tropical
and who flock to the station when the scenery be found more diversified than
steamer arrives, look on at the excesses between Aspinwall and Panama; you
of those in transit, and laugh quietly have the dense jungle, the impenetrable
when they think of the almost certain forest, the mountain range, covered with
result of them. They "have been foliage to the summit, the tortuous river
through the mill," and are willing that and smaller streams, with the mangrove
others should partake of their experi- bushes growing to their edge; birds of
ence as a penalty for their imprudence. the most brilliant plumage, and such
There is always more or less delay flowers as are only seen within the tropin leaving after all the passengers are ics; and yet with all this to please the
seated, and Mrs. Prudence has even eye, and to call forth the admiration of
found time before the train started to those who profess to be fond of the
give her experience, and tell what a beautiful, how seldom it is that an exdelightful time she had among the old clamation of delight is heard at such a
buildings and dry goods stores; and it combination of all that is lovely in nawas not without strong remonstrance ture! In the dozens of times that I
on the part of the husband, that she re- have crossed the Isthmus with passenfrained from opening the bundle to gers, and at all seasons of the year, I
show the pretty things she had pur- have not failed to notice what I have
chased. The climate had for a time stated above; and really, when I did
ceased to be thought of; the impru- hear some one break out with an exdence she had thus far been guilty of nev- clamation of pleasure, I have felt like
er entered her brain, and it was not until rushing up and embracing him or her
the moving of the cars told her that the for being an exception to the rule-for
train was off, that she remembered her evincing some appreciation of a picture
situation, and discovered that she was such as nature only can paint.
in that unhealthy locality-the Isthmus The principal topic of conversation,
-then it was that a shudder passed especially with cabin passengers, apover her, and she exclaimed that she pears to be about the passage just condid'nt feel very well; that the atmos- cluded. The ship, her captain and offiphere appeared heavy, and that she'd cers, the accommodations and the table,
better take another pill —and she did. are all raked up and overhauled. Gos We will leave our party to them- sip with her mischievoustongue pulls to
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[DEC.