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26 There are fine pebble beaches on the river - and the traveller if so disposed may find specimens of metamorphic stones - jasper - comelian - agate - chatcedong - &c Some of our party obtained very nice remembrances of the river in this shape. The [?] of the water also - makes it fit for all culinary purposes. This fact, in the thin state of the river - was the more apparant to me - because so much talk had been made beforehand - of the isthmus water. How careful emigrants should be - should boil it - put this, that the other in it, and by no means use the river water. We found it excellent water and in no wise deleterious to health. Nothing I find is so much a failing among men - as jumping hastily to causes - and this particularly in those which affect the state of the body. I have heard the most extravagant - the most grotesque concatination of arguments and conclusions - in this way. The truth is men - ought be very [?] in settling causes. It needs a God to talk industandingly - of that play thing of men. The morning of our departure came and with it the usual bustle and preparation of such occassions. The carriers are proverbial for their slowness and being behind hand - but we found in our contractor a man who hurried business. Nor was to unload his mules in Panama at night - and he saw that his men lagged not. It was arranged that our men should walk - except one - who was to ride with Tommy. The Doctors wife be carried in a hammock - slung on a pole - and the daughter and servant woman - ride discreet mules. A committee of three even appointed to push on to Panama - secure a horse and receive the baggage - scattered groups of the men - were to keep near the mules - while Dr N and myself with our guns were appointed to escort Mrs Newcomb and her bearers. Thus in left Gorgona with a train of 30 miles.

We left our camping ground about ten o'clock AM. in scattered groups. Every 6 or 8 mules were followed by two or more negroes - whose only driving consisted in whipping up the laggards - each mule being free to choose his own footpath. Our bearers shouldering their pole - set forward and D N and myself followed. Passing up the gullied hill - we passed through the skirt of the village - and swishing the place a Deos - struck into the Panama Road.