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47 unuttered and unsyllabled in those waves - they had a language to the soul - they called forth thoughts and imaginings - to the half dreaming spirit. O how wild - how fanciful - how pleasing! Bathing was a favorite amusement with us. The warm climate invited to the refreshing water - and the playful waves promised sport. Every day saw the Americans - thronging the beach and swimming in the agitated sea. The Panamanians do not affect the sea water but they relish bathing in fresh water. One moonlight night I met a party of girls - returning with gay spirits - from a bathing excursion to the stream without the city. Panama water over the head - from a cakebush bowl - is a favorite plan. Loitering on the beach. I saw some natives landing jackapis from a bringie. They had been brought up from Peru. The animals were boosted overboard and when utterly incorrigable hoisted out by a girth passing under their bellies. As of already sated with the sea by their voyage - and disinclined to take a cruise in their own accounts without chart or compass - they were very loth to be put over the side so conceroinoniously. Some steered will to land - being caught and mounted by a nation wading out for that pupose but several with snerting and brayings - put out gallenetly to sea - to the great disconifiture of the boats - which presently gave chase. But at that they all got safe to land. They were bought by the contractor that brought us over - at $115.00 each. Our Director essayed once - to go out with a friend in one of these clumey bringies to see a small schooner for which they were negotiating. The wind - the waves and the tide - obstructed the voyage. They were driven upon a point of the reefs - to the endangering of their lives - and after some two hours hard labor were glad to regain the beach.
It was Passion Week when we arrived in Panama. The Church enabled by the money and liberality of the Americans - was doing what their poverty have forbidden for many previous years - celebrating according to Catholic customs - the events of this Holy Week. One grand procession had occurred before our arrival. On Friday Evening - at the Cathedral - took place the Entombing of the Saviour. Going there we found - one of the recesses - filled by a pymmidal frame work - gaudily adorned - with images - pictures - flowers - ribbons &c and the whole brilliantly illumined with wax candles - inclosed in - plain and ornamental ground - oblong glass shades - and other candles hung and otherwise disposed