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Show 370 PERSONAL ADVENTURES tality; and to this fact \Ve attributed the origin of the rum our respecting the cholera. But the rainy season \vas now over, and \Ve therefore anticipated a pleasant journey across the Isthmus. We experienced some difficulty in procuring a canoe, as they were at once seized upon by those ·who had preconcerted their arrangements for the purpose. I had joined a party who were in the same predicatnent as n1yself, and we all resolved to follow the general example, and make a rush at the first that should no\v draw near. I should state that the captain \vould not permit the ship's boats to be used for conveying the passengers ashore, and hiR refusal occasioned a violent altercation, the sturdy n1iners threatening to give him and the mate a sound thrashing. Our party succeeded, after much scuffling, in procuring a canoe. We found the natives ex-ceedingly "wide awake" in pecuniary matters, and had to argue lustily before \Ve could conclude even an extravagant bargain for conveying us ashore; though, as the \Vhole party divided the expense, it fell lightly on each individual, the passage costing twenty dollars. It proved a wearisome one; for there was such a strong current running in a north-easterly direction, that to make direct for the town was ~1npossible, a11d we \Vere obliged to run for the 1nner extremity of the Bay, hugging the shore IN CALIFORNIA. 3il to avoid the wind and the current. The other canoes, which no·w studded the \Vaters in every direction, were obliged to tack about at short intervals, in the hope of sooner gaining the landing; but their success \Vas indifferent, and we made as much way as they did. Our negroes tugged at the oars with unremitting perseverance until they were fairly obliged to give in front sheer exhaustion. They now hoisted the sail, and turned the head of the canoe seaward, bn t found it so difficult to avoid running north-east, that they speedily lowered it, and resumed their labour at the oars. Perceiving thetn to be utterly incapable of continuing this laborious work, so great had been their exertions, I proposed that some of our own party should turn .to; a suggestion instantly acted upon. The enervating effects, ho,vever, of the atmosphere we were breathing, and of the arduous life :Vhich the majority had been leading in the mines, soon manifested themselves, for so great 'vas the debility of the men, that not one could. keep his place at the oars for more than five minutes at a time. Still we pushed on ; and, after a hard struggle of several hours, foun~ ourselves beyond the fort at a considerable distance from the to\vn and wh' ere our canoe wa s run upon the sand' with much difficulty, owing to the great number of rocks. |