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Chagres Isthmus of Darien March 28th 1849. It was in the still night when the Falcon dropped her anchors - and thus signified her voyage at an end. There was no commotion - no bustle and self laudation such as men use when they have accomplished a work - it was a cessation of motion - a swinging of her head noiselessly towards the sea - and the noble ship lay quietly on the face of the water. In the morning when I went on deck - I saw at the distance of about two miles - the shore - the much talked of Isthmus. - the term of the nervous man - the region of shadow and death through which every California, adventurer must pass to attain to the land of gold and high anticipations. By men generally the Isthmus was regarded as a dangerous spot - both as regarded climate and travelling - by the public prints most dilonus accounts had been published which had greatly prejudiced mens minds. The difficulty of landing - the many vessells lost at the rivers mouth - the hardship of crossing - but above all the rainy season - with its attendant exposures and diseases. Unable to form any opinion of this Isthmus my mind informed of all the rumours - and statements - it was with some anxiety I looked forward to my first impressions of the country. The sun was just rising over the eastern hills as I came on the deck - and gilding the woody hills with his morning effulgence. I looked on my left the land ended abruptly with a point - while before me and stretching away by a semicircular swip towards my right till - lost in the distance - lay a high hilly coast - smiling with the horlist verdun. The mists were rising from the mountains in the back ground. Hill and trees - rock and mountain - warmth and sunshine - combined with the loss of land sight during the period of our voyage - combined to give the landscape a delightful appearance. " And is this!" I exclaimed - "the unhealthy - the fearful Isthmus." she might man of the nervous and the dread of the strong man - surely it was a look of sooning beauty - a smile so pleasing - that falsiness cannot lurk behind.