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33 over it. No wider article then a packed mule. In croping one of the mountains early in the day I thought from the look of the numerous stones - that we had discovered a portion of this old paved road - but closed examination showed them to be columnar portions of trap rock. I have concluded - that the mountain was perhaps an old extinct volcanoe. How I wished in my heart Panama would have in sight. Our indisatigable niggers seemed to walk or half run faster and faster as the road lengthened before us. From every little rise of ground I strove to catch sight of the city. At length the wished sight appeared and just over the brow of a rise - the two ancient towers of the cathedral appeared. Hearty were the hurrahs that welcomed them. Mrs N raised by our clamor joined her welcome to ours. The Isthmus was crossed and her life had not been forfeited. The dreaded journey was nearly done. About a mile and a half out - we found many Americans camped - but hurrying on - we pressed forward anxious to arrive at our quarters before night. We passed wearily along the wide road now rapidly strewing with houses - passed through the gate - and ended our march at the Hotel Americano. Now we found our friends that had arrived before us - and all of us looking travel stained and jaded. It must have been a curious sight to the loungers - the sight of our parties arrival. First Hannah and the Servant - mounted in mens accoutriments - riding up to the door - and dismounting - then Tommy astride his carriers shoulders - then Mrs N. in her hammock with us armed on either side - and groups of our men arriving in the intervals. Grotesque would it have been in New York. And strange enough even in Panama's every day strange scenes. I have often been amused with witnessing the arrivals and movements of the German and Irish emigrants on our shore - and now I was myself become the source of amusement. We made odd emigrants - nor were we a whit behind in strangeness and oddities - those I had laughed at so often. I had been warming in imagination - as we neared Panama at the idea of beholding the great Pacific Ocean. And was I indeed to see this great ocean - the Pacific - so well known in imagination - whose name was as familiar as a shrier told tale? That ocean which lay so far from my native shores - and which for years - was to me only