The New York Herald Newspaper, March 1, 1871, Page 3

ny TH DARIEN CANAL, Proposed Route of the Inter- soganic Passage. FEASIBILITY OF THE PRESENT PROJECT. NOOO The Expedition of 1871 and Its Operations. What Has Been Accomplished and Future Plans. Narrative of Reccnnoissances Made by the Explorers, HYDOGRAPHIC WORK IN THE HARBOR. The Swivey amd the General Rrospects, ON BoarD Unirep States StoREsmIP GUARD, GuL¥ OF Darren, Heb, 7, 1871. Despite the numerous oostacics which have iuth- erto presented themselves to tie explorer in search of @ feasible and speedy route for an interoceanic snip canal across the American isthumus—consider- mg the many discouraging failures which for years have marked such commendable enterprises—the necessity of the undertaking and the glorious Tegults that will flow irom its accomplishment have cheered on still another courageous expedition, whose efforts, it is confidently hoped, will finally be crowned with success, It is unnecessary to diate upon the grand commercial benefits that will accrué from the carrying out of tne present favorable pro- ject, as it 18 superfinous to predict how gigantic will be the development of trade ‘that will follow the construction of the pro- posed canal. The subject is too widely known 0 be commented upon at this advanced stage, and itonly remains toset forth what has so far been done by this expedition, its proposed operations ana the substantial grounds upon which the sanguine hopes of the explorers are based, together with some meteorological and mineralogical observations which will doubtless prove interesting in connec- tion with the expedition. J have already forwarded to the HERALD by telegraph the important an- Bouncement that Commander Selfrigge had dis- Covered a route from the moutn of the Atrato, that he had ascended that river for about forty miles, had subsequently entered the Cacarica river, which he followed up until he reached the diviaing ridge, and had thence Procecded to the Paya, eich ‘Ginpties ito” the Tuyra, ‘and which mm turn empties into the Gulf of San Miguel. It was also stated that, making every allowance under such circumstances, the height of Ane divide was esiimated at 300 feet, 1¢ may prove ‘vo be much less, as the actual survey has not yet been completed. [his particular route by way of the Cacarica has, it appears, never been explored for canal purposes, although, of course, the Alrato ‘s familiar to those who have already made surveys ‘2 that direction. Whatever clans other routes may have upon the attention of the community, and to enumerate or comment on the majority of them would only tend to strengthen the diificuity of com- prebending the great problem, 1t is certain that the one now under consideration is at least deserving of @ thorough and satisfactory examimauon, From ¢ the exploration that has been made up to Paya } it is believed that the obstacles to the dividing ridge are comparatively slight, and that on the otber side navigation from the excellent natural barbor of San Miguel, through the Tuyra river, is @ matter efeasy accomplishment. It is estimated, moreover, at the crest of the alvide docs not exceed ufteen iéet, while the side next the Atiantic is almost per- Pumaren hae nu veen made, an approximate idea of the real facts can only be given. But the explorers are confident of achieving u triumph, and, indeed, the present prospects seem to point in that direction. For each route hitherto surveyed some special advantage was claimed. Among the many was that along the Chagres river, from Aspinwall to Panama, a dis- tance of forty-seven miles, of which 1% 1s said thirteen miles are navigable, while the di- viding ridge is but two hundred and sixty-two feet, Since the present expedition commenced the suiject Of an interoceanic canal has been the most prominent topic of discnssion at both Aspmwall and Panama, the conclusion in all cases naturally arrived at being that, [rom the surveys made and local knowledge, the route by the Chagres was at least among the mest practicable. But, apart from the various statements sect forth, it 1s suflicient to know that a canal 1s indispensably uecessary, and must sooner or later be constructed. A passage through the isthmus that will reduce the distance from New York to San Francisco over nine tnou- sand miles must be regarded as one of the greatest physical works of the age. I now proceed to give the DETAILS OF THE EXPEDITION, which has just been vigorously commenced under the most promising auspices, and the United States storeship Guard seems to be better favored by cir- cumstances for this expedition than that of last year, which, it will be remembered, was com- menced rather iate in the season for all practical operations. Her voyage from New York on the 34 of December last to this harbor was extremely pleasant with the exception of the first three or four days, when, during a severe gale on the third day, one of the seamen, Henry McAlister, fell from the bowsprit, and, neing struck vy the for- ward part of the ship, was probably killed, as, not- withstanding the active search made, his body could not be discovered. Nothing occurred of un- usual interest until! the arrival of the Guard at Car Uhagena, which is about two hundred miles 1rom the mouth of the Atrato. The principal object of the commander in visiting this old Spanish city was to hire native laborers to accompany the expedition. Short as was the stay at Carthagena the inhabitants ol that romantic and picturesque locailty were most hospitable and entertaining. The re ception given by the omMcers of the Guard wae largely attended. Extensive preparations were quickly made for a suitable re.urn, and a few days afterwards a splendid ball was given in the principal hall of the metropolis, which was attended by Commander Selfridge, Commander Lull ana nearly all the officers of the Guard. It was one of the happiest reunions that has occurred there for many years, and when the Guard cleared the next day she left the most pleasant reminiscences behind. After an interesting sail of two days the Guard touched at the mouth of the Atrato, and finally an chored in ‘the Gulf of Darien. The river empties into the Gulf through eleven mouths, up which the native bongos go for many miles for thelr cargo of rubber, or, as they term it, “‘caoutchouc,"’ the gather- ing of which, by the way, Makes quite a lively trade between Carthagena and this place. There is a tle village across the way cailed Pissisi, which has about forty houses and over @ nundred inhabitants, who are chiefly engaged in ibe rubber onsivess, They aiso gather jyory nuts and dyewoods in such suficient quantl- tes as to warrant the ranmng of a stern wheel steamboat twice a mouth. There are very few In- @ians in this neigbborhood, as the most of them reside in the mountains, where the fruits, upon Which they live, grow 1 avundance, The parties Who Dave charge o/ the nydrograpiy and triangula- on of tbe bay, under Commanaer Lull, iound con- aiderable difficulty in obtaining suitable places to erect the necessary signals, as the mangroves and rank grasa grow 80 thickly and so jar out im the water that it was a matier of considerable labor to cut ® Way to solid ground. A/ligators abound in all directions, while immense flocks cf slags are frequently seen hovering m the air. On en- tering the harbor there 1s a low, sandy, nar- row sland, which rons out to a point and disappeurs in the breakers. So low is it that at high tude 1648 almost entirely coverey. On Ul ehest point the astronomer of the pariy has bis observa. tory, adjoining which the cabin, wardroom and NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1871—TRIPLE SHEET, and THE DARIEN INTEROCEANIC CANAL. The Proposed Connection Between tho Atlantic from the Atrato River to San Miguel. Pacific Oceans--The Route go CAMIEUE AL SER = \y WY 4) Meg ae « few nights since a nuge alligator was discovered, enticed, no dount, by the grunting of severai young fat pigs, upon which he thought to make a charming meal, but the monster was suddenly checked by but- Ung his unsnapely head againsi a bullet. He has not since been heard of. Ciose to the sandy isiand is a thickly-wooded piece of ground upon which uhere have be biacksmiths’ and carpenters? shops, The re’ we laborers along famously, and as anevidence of their activity, have, under the feet itt length, at tne eetéfn confiudh Fea BAY At the end of the wharf there are four feet of water, suficient tor the steam launeh to land. Tne weather has been very favorable for the commencement of operations, The thermometer averages about eighty- seven degrees, and there have up to the present been very pleasant land and sea breezes every night. ‘The harbor is well protected, has plenty of water and is large enough for any naval fleet to enter. THE ROUTE COMMENCED. Preliminary arrangements having been satisfac- torily compleied the first exploring party, constst- ing of Mr. A. R. Couden, Master; Mi. J. Barnes, Chief Civil Engineer; Mr. A. D. Beach, Assistant Civil Engineer; six sailors and two machetta men, whe had been taken from Carthagena as guides, put forth from the ship. ‘hey leit the Guard on the last morning of the old year to make @ reconnoissance, in two launches, by the Cano Cognita, one of the mouths of the Atrato. The Cano Cognita is a narrow passage into the main river about ene mile from the Barbacoas. — The lat- ter 1s m some parts nearly eight hundred feet wide and from iorty ve fifty feet in depth. The snore on either bank 1s very feavily mundated and thickly wooded, and for miles no foothold could be ob- tained. The current in dry weather runs from three to four Knots an hour. It was gratifying, however, to find that the river was remarkably clear of “snags” or obstacles of floating timber, and the ex- plorers pulied cheerily along. On the second day out the party passed the Coca Grande and the Trena, two of the tributaries of the Atrato, ana soon after entered the main river, which was fuund to surpass the brightest anticipations of those who had never before beheld it. About six o'clock @ halt was made to cook; but finding no landing place, owing to the marshy nature of the banks, tke oars were once more vigo- rously plied, and at ten o’clock the party cast anchor, and, wearied with fatigue, were soon wrapped m slumber, the rubber blankets doing good service, as the dew was very heavy. Scarcely an hour had passed, however, when a determined agsauit was made by SWARMS OF FEROCIOUS MOSQUITOES, which, gratified at'such @ lucky windiall o1 human beings, commenced their herrible music like an orchestra ef insatiable vampires. In vain did the explorers slap their faces; in vain did they huddle themselves into the smallest tgs space. The Mosquitoes won the fight, and finding that it was useless to continue the combat the party started of in dismay, and pulled during the enure night, passing the, Uraba on the Md On the Tollowing morning at Rd td the explorers halted, and, discovering a piece of dry ground, made a fire. it was here the chuckling of the red and brown monkeys, Which sat composedly on the trees, was first heard. They did not seem at all surprised, but patiently awaited the termination of the hasty meal, in order to make a descent upon the crumbs. Tne natural history of the place was varied by the ap- pearance ef several lazy alligators and sloths, which crawled about in the most self-satisficd style imagin- able. Shots were occasionuliy fired at them, und they only siunk off at their ease, tnough apparently fll-satisfied at belng disturbed. At the earnest solicitation of a guide one of the monkeys was shot for mm to cook. Such unearthly yells as the other monkeys set up at the sudden and unexpected demise of their com- panton Would puta multitude of demons to fight. ‘Yhe departed nionkey was examined, put the guide pronounced bim too old for digestive purposes, and ne was accordingly cast into the river. With re. | newed vigor the galant oarsman “let fall’ again, | and away went the scows in goed style. ‘The river Leon was passed 1n the forenoen, and at about two o'clock the Tummerando was also lett benind. Both those rivers empty into the Atrato, At seven o'clock | in the evening tue explorers again halted, and after a Nasty meal the scows started ofl—ail attempts of the party to sleep being out of the question—and con- tinued up the river all night ‘The activity, energy and perseverance of tie courageous mene party cannot be too highly commended, for, not- withstanding the almost msurmountable diilicuities which sv far marked their career, the vest of spirits were maintained. The launch arrive: at the mouth of tae Cacarica the following morning. ‘This was the desirabie pomt to be reached, and so on enter: ing the oarsmen partly relaxed their efforts, the better to reconnoire the surroundings. At the entrance the river 18 about 126 ieet wide and from twenty to thirty ieet deep, having banks simuar to those of the Atrato, Marsuy and thickiy timbered. ‘There was not minch variety in the surrounding scenery; but far away On eltner side gigant.c wees tewered in the air. It was a wild locality, and net the remotest trace of civilization was anywhere to ve seen, Mr. Couden and party pulied up the river a little way, aid urrived ata piace called Loma de Cacarica, Which is about two miles amd 2 half from the entrance of the river. ‘This was, in reality, the first spot of good svlid ground the party had siood upon since they quitted the Guard. It was about sixty ieet high and two hundred feet long at the base. Several mud houses were io be seen bere and there, occupied by mdia rubber huniers, who were nowise uncivil to the explorers, Tne next morning asteam launch, with Commander Seifridge and a number of nen, having @ scow in tow, appeared in sight near Loma de Cacarica, und, alter mutual greeting, the course of proceeaing was arranged. It appeared that, owing to the jarge quanuty of Tank grass growing in the river, the steam launch could not make way, and it was finally determined steciage Mess have the DOWITY yard, Ay waniy at that Commmagder Seliridee and Au, VOuden and a ] party of seamen should push forward in the row launch. Accompanied by @ guide, the commander and his men went forih to make a reconnoissance of the river, For about three miles the current was notimpeded, but suddenly there came in sight some- thing like A FLOATING MEADOW, and, upon examination, tt was found that the object of wonder was no other than a fleld of lote grass, with heavy arog , tmckly, edgew to: gether, and growing. vo the eight of ten oF twelve which was flowing at the rate of two or tumge Auots an hour, extended over six miles, and thi%s block- aded the party headed towards the bank and made a tortuous passage through the trees, surrounding which the water was some fifteen or twenty feet deep. Having successfuily cleared the barricade, the launch again pursued her course, but nad gone scarcely halfa mile when a similar dificulty presented itself, which was overcome after 2 terri- ble amount of energetic plodding and patience. The party left behind in charge of Mr. Barues and | Mr. Kunhardt being unable to proceed in the steam | launch, owing to the many obstacies in the river, were ordered to move on as best they could and take a reconnoissance, so that they would be enabled | to meet Commander Selfridge and report on his re- | , thickly. ws to- turn, Meanwhile the pioneer launch had been mak- Ing good headway, and at sundown on the sd January the party halted, having passed Cano Unton | in the afternoen. The usual visit of the mosquitoes | was paid to the expiorers just as they were com- | posing themselves to sieep. The assault was vigor- | ous, and it Is unnecessary to add that the winged | beslegers were entirely triumphant. Starting at | daylight, the explorers proceeded slowly, for so great | Were the barriers met with that on two or three oc- casions the launch had to be lilted out of the water and hauled over the floating snags. That night an old Indian camp was discovered ina little piece of high ground, where the launch ‘was pulled up and the epicurean tastes of the party were indulged with hard tack and bacon. Torrents of rain came pouring down for hours, so that the current Went coursing at a rapid pace. At this point the river became much wider, There being nobody in the camp except the itinerant explorers. THE ROARING OF TIGERS, which seemed to be quite close at hand, did not | tend in any way to relieve tne gloom which pre- vatled. Owing to the swollen condition of the river but little headway was made next day. At night- fall a halt was made at @ native ranch, generaliy occupied by india rubber hunters. As on the pre- vious evening the rain fell heavily, extinguishing the fires and swelling the current’ to the height or ten feet. Raw bacon and hard tack were again brought into requisition. After strug- | gling through many rapids of from two to six feet fall, over which the launch had frequently to be hauled, the explorers arrived on hard ground, and it was then determined to proceed to Paya on foot, a distance of about twenty-five miles, Leaving one man in charge of the launch, Commander Sel(riage, Mr. Couden and the men commenced their tedious journey on the morning of the loth of January. Provisions now began to grow rather stinted, and as the ground was muddy, consequent upon tie heavy rains, the march was very much linpeded. At noon <hey reached the mouth of tne Rock river, eo named by the explorers {rom the nature of its bed, which is one of the tributaries of the Cacarica. About seven o’clock that evening the party camped for the night. The rain came down with relentless fury. Streams of water flowed into the camp from all quarters, and sleep being entirely out of the question, all hands were obliged to look sharply after their present safety. Ou the next day the march was resumed along the banks of the Rock river, The party then struck of over the hills, and at two o’clock they reached the divide between the Auantic and the Pacific, By the barometer the height of the divide abuve the bed of the river was found to be 170 fect, and the heigat of the river ‘was estimated to be 130 feet above the level of the sea, making the entire height of the divide 3v0 feet. At this point the divide was from ten to fifteen ieet wide oa the crest, with a side nearly perpendicular and asurtace of clay forseveral feet below. No actual survey Was made, as the party were simply recon- noiurmg. The otoer explorers then struck an old Ladian trail towards Paya, and on the next day (Januavy 12) they arrived opposite the village of Paya, On the river of that name, On seeing the strangers the Indians rusned out and received them kindly, and when, through the aid of an inierpreter, the ob- ject of the explorers was set ferth, the natives be- haved most hospitably, offering one of the best houses in tie village for their accommodation—a luxury that was readily accepted. Commander Selfridge had then an ee INTERVIEW WICH THE CHIEF OF THE TRIBE and made him some presents, with which ne seemed to be delighted. The chief is named Miguelon and is.ever oue handred years old, finely formed, with en, piercing eyes aud an intelligent look; and, strange to say, has a fine crop of jet black hair. Not- withstanding ‘his advanced years Migueion moved about very actively, and had just returned from the hunt in the woods. There were two other chiefs, Lele and his broiner, both being much younger than Miguelon and ene of them the physician of the village. The youngest of the chiefs was, In fact, not more than forty years old, and seemed to sway @ copsiderapie amount Of infuence among his brethren, He alone was reticent, but the others exnibited much curiosity aud seemed inost anxious to shake hanas With tue explorers. In ail there were between four and tive nuodred Indians in the viliage. ‘They were dressed in variegated siurts and pantaloons, but wore no Hats, while their hair fel over their shoulders or was bunched to- gether with a comb. Altogether they were a fue set of fellows, but there was an air of laziness about them that deteriorated imuch from their manly appearance. Personal cleauliness, how- ever, seemed one of thetr redeeming characteris- ties, as they bathe as eften as two or three umes a day, They ave very wdolent and rutiw efeuimate in their ways, and insist upon their better halves doing nearly all the work, while they themselves “he off in their hammocks and smoke almost the entire day. ‘The women, it must be confessed, are decidedly unprepossessing, being short and stumpy and with cheek bones so prominent that crows could perch upon them. But, like other ladies of all na- Uons, they have their fashions, the most striking of we are the bracelets which they wear upon their affiis, knees utankics. ‘acy are a curious pateorR anda are not likely to be worn in New York next season, Their ranment is of a@ blueish color, bat “In oceutradistinetion to the mode of wearing, low-necked dresses they shorten their apparel below in order that the brace- leis may receive their due share of admiration. The children, from fifteen years down, are nude—a state which they seem to enjoy exceedingly, Fruits grow in abundance, wuile there is no lack of excellent gaine, so that in many respects the Indians are well provided for. After @ fair nights rest Commander Selfridge sent @ despatch to the secretary of the Navy and another to the Consul at Panama by one of the men, named Emerson, who had been taken sick and was unable to return, and who, accom- panied by a few Indians, proceeded, in a canoe hired for the purpose, up the Tuyra river through the Gulf of San Miguel and thence to Panama. 1 have already sent by telegraph the sub- stance of the despatch, which set forta that a line had been discovered, the height of the divide at the highest estimate being 300 feet. The follow- ing day Commander Seltridge and party, after mak- ing a hasty reconnolssance, took their departure from Paya and reached the Rock river, where they haited for the night. A successful trip was made across the hills, aud the party soon came to that part of the Cacarica where the scew had been left, and, entering it, the oarsmen went to work with a will, and, favored by the rapidly flowing current, the little craft shot along in eo style. A short dis- tance before coming to the Loma ae Carcarica they met the steam launch, with the party wko had been lett behind, and who, exceedingly short of provi- sions, had determined to make their way to Paya. Meanwhile’ Commander Lull had set forth from the ship in search of the explorers, being much concerned at thelr prolonged absence, and the parties, now joing together, started down the river tewards the Guard, which they finally reached, without difficulty, on the 17th of January. Buc the energy, perseverance and indom - itable pluck displ yed by Commander Selfridge in his long, fatiguing Journey to Paya could not be ex. ercised Without some sacrifice. Buoyed up with the excitement of the exploraiion the hardships which he endured on the way had not had time to develop tueir Wasting results upon his active frame. Now, however, Unat anxiety was partly dispelled, and that there was comparatively some ease experienced in going down the current in the launch, the fever, for which @ good foundation had been laid when plod- ding through the eieeith aa Juil upon him on the Way, and before the launck caine alongside the Guard he was prostrated by the disease. Kest and careful treatment, however, soon worked wonders, and it is satislactory to know that he has now recovered and is as anxious and sanguine as ever about the success of the expedition. [ herewith enclose a map showing the route and the present line of survey, which was specially prepared for me by Commander Lull. The actual survey will be commenced imme- diately up to the divide. What the result will ve it 18 impossible to stave, but 1t may be mentioned that sanguine hopes are entertained for its success. On Monday morning Lieutenant Commander Schulze anda party of men wiil start to hire canoes and laborers at Sucio, on the Atrato. Several interme- diate routes will in the meantime be tried, so that nothing Will be left undone to render the eutire sur- vey as complete a8 possible. RETURN OF ANOTHER EXPLORIND PARTY, Satisflea that many unexplored rivers flowed into the Atrato, through which perhaps a more teasivie route than by the Cacarica cou!d be obtained, a party was ordered to proceed towards the Paran- chita river in the hope that the divide might be found even lower than that discovered twenty-five miles trom Paya. On the 23d ult Mr. Barnes, civil engineer; Mr Holihan, assistant engineer, and a party of men passed through the Cano Coginta, the harrow channel previously mentioned, that runs into the Atrato, which river was ascended at about five miles distant from the Guard. Following the course of the Atrato for forty mues the party reached the mouth of the Cacarica, and continuing the Jatter stream for three miles they reached the highest point to which the steam launch could ascend, as the river there 1 en- urely covered with the heavy sod, two feet in thick- ness, and covered with @ dense mass of coarse grass, with water beneath, to the depth of thirty er forty feet, and @ curr.nt feur or five feet nigh. From this point the journey was to be made in @ canoe as Tar as practicable, and thence on foot. The oniy land here consists of an isolated rocky island, known as the Loma de Carcarica, to which I have already reierred. The whole summit ts covered with one of the peculiar ranches of the country— namely, open shanties of poles and thatched with palm leaves. The sides are so precipitous that 1b 18 only accessiole at one end. It is intabited at present by five or six men and one of the five wives of which tue guide acknowledged himsel! the happy proprietor. Aller breakfast the party started early 12 order to reach hard land before nightfall. ‘The grassy river extends for avout three-quarters of a mile, which Une explorers got past vy a detour through the swamp, when they again came into the river, open, broad and very deep. which extends for a distance of five miles, ending abruptly in a jake a intle in di- ameter, With & untform depth of twenty-tive feet, ‘This lake—which. censtantiy,forming wiih the wae ters of a river with an average width of 200 feet, depth of thirty feet ana a current of more than a mile per hour—has no apparent inet. A difivult navigation through tne woods for half a mule brought the pariy tw We mver Kia @ stream much larger " but much — of na than the Caca- entirely overgrowa with grass. Following this stream for about four miles In @ southeasterly direction the party quickly into the mouth of the Paranchiia. This | river, like most of the others adjacent to it, Is en- | tirely overgrown with grass, and for a great portion | of the way the canoe had to make an extremely dif ficult passage among the trees, two aud a half miles through the river brought the party toa standstill, as darkness had now fairly set in, and alter Composing themselves as best they could the | canoes rocked easily and ere midnight Morpheus | reigned supreme. The next morning at daybreak | the pariy started forth again upon th ive rous errand, and after a pretty bard day's w rrived at another 1 yer hunter's ranch, uid informed th "8 that two days? Jour. ‘y Would bring them to tue foot of the divide, canoe was then left in charge of one of the ma- te men, and the party started off on foot into , the woods. Lut the guide sSeoxmed entirely ignorant | of the route, and, Owing to his Want of geographi- | cal kuowledge, compelled the weary travelers to Ke a circ.e at least three times. “Isolated nills | surrounded them on alt sides, aud to each Indl vidual Was presented the not very cheering prospec rvaiion. Darkness pat an end to (ei peran ation, and, setting: forth at daybreak te follow- | ing morning, they were compelled to wade thro! | the streaa for nearly nine long hours. fhe $ camped again ab sundown and arose a yn Lhe ,vllowing Morning. But the gu: was ab tus point. | Spects were gioouiy im the extreme, yet the party | nevertheiess continued the route three iniles farth | bong the bythest point to whien they had yet and found ihe guide still laboring under the disease, Uiough nor suificiently devisiatet as to be unable to sur With the explorers, Who proceeded to retrace | their steps with all possible despaten; and, after two | 3’ successful Jour towards the ship the ad- tuvous jie “party was met by the steau mon aud iinded safely on board tie Guard. ‘The result of reconnosisance Was suflctent lo ind | cate that the route ta tais dire-uon, Walch 1s nearly } paratlel to the Cacarica, 13 also fedsibic. The sux | vey Will be re, enced Ua ew days. IC SURVEY. The hydrographic survey of the Gulf of Darien, whieh is the easiern termuius of ts route, is belug perlormed us rapidly as possiole, The thlangal tion and topographic work is being douc by ; Commander Lui and te hydrography — by Master J, M. Howley, assisted by Midstigiwen J | J. Hunker, Spacious, and m every way adapted | Wor the purpose, the harbor covers about seveuty } square miles, ‘The channel 18 about four miles | | Wide, the dept of water varying from eight | tw uwely ms. After ul examination | we foun the ground was exceilent, | ing a mi of black sand and mud. place is Well protected from the prevailing wid by a large shoal which makes into a smail island about half a mile long and thirty yards wide. Suilicient work has already veen performed to show what the gulf utfords a good aucnorage for any class of vessel, Observations of the tide are made every haif hour, both day and night, and thus far the ex- treme rise and fall is oly twenty-two inches, ‘The tide ebds and flows ouce u day, ind seems to be tn- tiuenced a great deal by the’ wind, which, at Utls vertod of the year, blows from the sea, Commander Juil's investigation will doubtless prove very valua- ble uncer all circumstances, Eighty miles of sound: ings have already been run, NATURAL HISTORY AND GEOLOGY. The mineralogist of this party, Dr. G. A. Maack, of the Cambridge museum, has made an excerient col- lection in the department of natural history and geology. The zooiogical collection is particularly good, containing specimens of many of the different classes of he animal kingdom, mammals as well as birds, reptiles, fishes. crustacea, insects and mol- lu-ka, are represented In great number of fair speci- mens. The collection Will, no doubt, be a valuable contrioution to & museum and may furnish interest- ing material for scienttic invesugations. The bo- tanical results of a pleasant exploratton m this vicinity have so far a general mterest, It having found that the balsam tree, ‘the sarsaparilla and other valuable plants occur in large quantities tu the back Woods of tue eastern side Of ine Darien Gulf, Near the village of Turbo spect- mens of coal Dave also been discovered. in e the canal should be made from this place the | the country around Turbo will be found very valua- | bie for mmauy necessaries. The soil, for instance, is | of tine clay, admirably adapted for brick making, | While many other natural advantages are aso | presented, The services of the mineratogist not as yet been brought into ace requisition, and will probably not | needed until the «divide comes to be tested, METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. Although no portion of the proposed route bas as yet been thoroughly surveyed, extensive vperations nave been carried on in the harvor. Mr. F. Blake, Jr., | of the Coast Survey, has made observations in longi | tude and Jatitude and in determining the meridiaa line. Accurate tidal observations snow the average | rise and fall of the waiter to be a little less than two | feet. ‘The operations are now fairly under way, and | many excellent results are expected therefrom. | Among other things the amount of evaporation | wes takes pace on the river 18 also belng deter- mined. v have hve be SURVEY OF THE ATRATO RIVER | Ashort time since Mr. J. P. Merrill, Master; Mr. | Duvall, and a crew of men made a fair survey of | Barbacoa river and part of the Atrato. The former Was found to vary from a half to three-quarters of a snile in width, with plenty of water in the channel. turned | | with prospects that entitle ic The pro- | | Salvador Camacno, - | national goveran ‘Whey returned to the camp towitrds mightlalt | tried. It cannot be dented that various onstaclem Present themselves, and that the undertaking is Bante in ts character. Fruiie-s 4 have bee pee time after ime, yet, uses, the coun- ry has never been suiiiently explored f thie belfef that an interoe Pcamal te i apeboneatl ble. In fact, the knowle concerning tha greater portion of this Vasc tract ot country Id Mostly of @ superiictl character, and, i uany iM stances, Cannot safely be relied pou.’ ‘hata feasts bie route exists there can be doubt, and that can be discoversd only after a vigorous and persistent sear The preseat expedition has been, commenced under very fayerave auspices, ant to the earnest ate tention of the community. The splendid harbors ag either end of We Loute, Mie SUceessi Mi LeconnoIsMane ces Chat have already been made, *owuig Wet navies gation is even now feasiu! over half We distanes of the enuire line, raised the hope that tha expedition will be iuurked by success. Phe achieves ment wil be @ credit fo the nation aud a lasdng houor to the numes of Lioxe WO uve so Vigorousi¥ prosecuted their labors, Phere 14 Lilie more ty be ad« ded. Everything is now fairly woder Way. While Cou Inander Selfridge 1s surveying the Factile side noth~ ing willbe left undone ou tis vol the divi Meanwhtie Commauder Lull will coutuue the supers Viston of the work in the nurbor, Tuk GOVERNMENT OF COLOMBIA DELON. It seems that the lehargy which has hitherto marked the government of Colomoia Wes temporary shahen of by the thought that @ Canal Was about to be buiit for iis special convenieace. some tne aga secretary of the Interior ol tha Di of Colombia, wroce a letter (or the, Secrecary of the Slate of Cuued. Iisa preuyt good specimen of ihe higt-down style of correspond ence and is a custority mits Wey. It will be seca) that while the gover: the idea of per Hipating in the advan Canal acrossttn isihunus its Lipevalit S desires. Thy full text appeare ud @ portiout FEMS US LOLOWS 0 Gureee LO Ube siub- ject the dustrious wid jolic aceulion of your wovernineat, in the hope that 10 will contripute tu the success of the expedition by ale the means in its power, but parucaiarly recommend that) the authorities aud tue citizens render protections Und assistance Mm every Inguuer posotble, Ll would SUgwesl Lual there be orcaniced ab Guibado an e.4 ON THE EXPE. | ploriug expediuion fo accuiapany ifat of the Amert- can ex pedition—at le trugacoe aad the Pa object: of wit the saorlest aud Lofy peuweed Lie MONT Of Li ~wnd particularly with the, est passes of the Covdlli Namicana to ther heights of Aspalvi, on tue dividing tine between the States. OL tuls expedition) conuribate $2,000, vou by Ube State of ab Which ‘aay ve contributed by those} and Bouvar, acd to what may be ture hished by the voluntary and patriotic sabscriphons Of the neighborin, es of Choco—purucalartyy those of Novia and = Quibalo~will form & vund sumMcient to cover the expenses of Ui exploration. Ln order lo proceed with Lue best effec! AL Would perhaps be Well to give this expedition denmite object, as, for exaipi', the exploration of the passes of Lie Coriilleras, On the Line above mens Uoned, or Wpon eny orer hue Which may be agreed, upon with Communuder Seilvidye, leaving to Lie Alerican expedition the byucograplic exploration of the Atruio aud its tribataries, 'Cuis expediuom will in this way become an auxilary to the re- searctes of the American engi to find @ depression in the Cordlil for mia between the Atrato au ‘There Wiil Hot be required tn ilis expedition sclen- lullc engineers, but siuply men of courage and hardinood and somewhat acquamied with the diifereut branehes of the Corditleras which separate the waters of the <Atrato from the Pacific Ocean, and of persons acquainted with the havlts and cusieis o. ine Ludiaus of Choco, and who will resolve to undergo Cleeriaily the hardships } and privations of a iile in the woods lor two or three months, As a stimulous tu this enterprise might be mentioned the fact ¢ there Will naturally be meg in this couniry large quanties of cacutciouc, sarsa~ parilla, ipecacuana aud mines of gotd nox yet dis- covered, In every cause | have no douot that you Will most earnestly recommend to the consideration of your government to the notabie persons and to the people in general In your vicinity to receive the’ American explorers with all the kindly sympathy and patriouc Interest which are their due. "it is not necessary to suy to you that the route by the Tru- ando presents most advantages for the republic,! and the one which the President wouid prefer ta have chosen. ‘Chis route would open new ana ex- vensive fieids of progress for the States of Panama, Cauca and Bolivar, aid will periaps render tha region of the Choco the first in tue world ip less than balla ey ‘This characterise epistle, though doubtless written with thorough earnestoess, 18 a specimen of the enterprise of the government. They preter ail the troublesome operations im connection with tae | expedition to be performed by Americans while their own explorers should huni for goid and media Tubber. Protection and assistance are generousiy, offered in the foregoing, but since tha Jetter was written the government seem ta have forgotten all about the matter. Nothing, in fact, has come of it; Dut one thing 1s quite cer- tain, that if the general government kindly for< warded @ humane baich of natives witn mo-quito nets or some other apparatus that could successfully drive off the pertinacious swarins of mosquitoes thag \orture the sleepless expiorers no more philanthropig action could be accomplished. HEALTH 1B EXPLORERS. No solid ground could ve discovered on either bank, and the surrounding marshes extended for miles. | ‘The place is very heavily wooded on voth sides, ‘The party subsequently ascended the Atrate, which was Jound to be much wider than the Barbacoa. There Jrore frum ton to tirreun tothonie nf maton, wast tm some places no vottom cou discovered.” For nearly forty miles the Atrato presents the samme ex- cellent features, being aimust entirely free trom | snags or other obstructions, 80 that vessels of the | largest tonnage could sail up or down with the | greatest security. j THE NIPSIC ARRIVES UPON THE SCENE. So far back as the 17th December the U! 1d States steamer Nipsic, Lieutenant Commander Byron | Wilson in command, left Washington, destined to | perform an important part in the extensive opera. | ons now in progress. She called at Noriolk on the | 19th and took on board a number of engineers who , had been appointed on the survey at Tehuantepec lor an interoceanic canal. Leaving on the foliowing | day she proceeded to Key West to coal, encounter- ing en the way @ very severe gale off Tybee. Sie arrived on the 29th, and two days afterwards sailed | for her desunation. She entered the Coatzacoalcus river on the 6th January, As tie water was some- what low tae vessel could not proceed suiticiently | far up the river, Lieutenant Commander Wilson | ordered three boats to be lowered and the surveyors | Were then landed. Un the following morning the Nipsic headed towards Key West, where she arrived | on the 16th ee and two days later sailed for Aspinwall, and came to anchor in that | pert on the 20th of the mouth. After coaling and receiving the mails for the Guard she started forth against obstlaate head winds, aud after a successful trip arrived at une meuth of the Atrato , on the 30th January. Her advent was welcomea, | and after the Nipsic nad eatered the Gulf of Darien the joyful mails were taken over to the Guard. The tmely arrival of the Nipsic was the means of avoid- ing some confusion. It will be remembered that | when Commander Selfridge arrived at Paya last month he despatches one of the -eamen in a barge | to Panama with a letter to Consul Long, requesting | Consul Perry, at Aspinwall, to charter a schooner and send her to the Atrato. With the strong head | wind which prevailed the schooner would have had but a weak ciiance of getting up in less than eight or | nine days; so Consul Perry thought it more prudent te wait a day orso, when, luckily, the Nipsic hove in sight and performed the much-needed duty re- { ferred to, 3 The Nipsic will be engaged in assisting in the | expedition. Her officers ure:—Byron Wilson, Lieu- | tenant Commaader, commanding; Socrates Hub- | bard, lieutentant and executive officer; Emmett | McCormack, lieutenant ana navigator; F. W. Green- leaf, I. M. Lee, J. E. Rogers, masters; J. Q. Bartou, passed assistant paymaster; W. J. Simon, surgeon; K. Potts, first assistant engineer; J. B. Murdock, C. Brigg and H.R. Tyler, midshipmen; Edmond For- | tune, captain’s clerk, aud G. W. Salter, paymaster’s | clerk. The operations of the Nipsic’s efiicers will probably be confined to the vicinity of the Gult of | Darien, and she will occasionally go to Aspinwall to | convey the maiis to the Guard. THE PR POSED OPERATIONS, i Commander Selfridge, having now sufficiently re- covered, witnin the past few days has resolved upon @ plan of operations which if successfully carried out, must certainly resuitin a lyre knowledge | of the route, aod, doubtless, a complete and sutis- | factory survey, which, even, if nothing else be ac- complished, will be a most valuable contribution to | the scientific labors in connection with expeditions | upon this comparatively unknown isthinus. The last | party has just returned irom the Cacarica, a narrative of whose exploring operations has | been given above. Hitherto reconnoissances only | have been made, but enough has veen seen to m- | spire the belief that of tue routes hitherto spoken of the present 1s pernaps the most feasible. The whole expedition has now been spiendidly organized, snd | nothing remains to be done except the actual work | of surveying. ‘This (Tuesday) morning Commander Seifridge, accompanied by several engineers and the Phocographer, Mr. Moran, the astronomer, to take | ‘ube initial points, will yon to Aspinwall in the | steamer Nipsic and will cross over to Panama and join the United states steamer Resaca, which has been In waiting for tim in the bay, T:e party will then move along the Pacific side to the Gulf of st. Miguel, where operations wili be immediately | commenced, Entering the gall in a steam launch, Commander Selfridge will commence the survey along the Tuyra river to the dividing ridge. It is weil to mention that the Gulf of San Miguel forms an excellent harbor, and a considera- bie portion of the Tuyra 18 also navigabie, so that under al) circumstances not much difficulty 1s antici- pated. Meanwhile the survey on this side will be vigorously prosecuted, under the immediate super- vision of Commander Lull. A party under the charge of Mr, Couden leit yesterday morning at daybreak, With all necessary apparatus. Their work will be necessarily siow, but the most sanguine hopes for their success are generally entertained. Mr, Couden’s party started in launches, and pro- ceeded up the Atrato, thelr intention being to go as Jar ag the mouth ef the Cacarica and then vranch oif "in the direction of the Paranchita, Another survey- ing party, under the charge of Mr. Sullivan, master, Wil set forth in a few days, and enter the Cacarica, surveying the route of which Commander Selfridge made the reconnolssance, and will sarrive at Paya in the course of a mouth, It 18 thought that the exteat of the route to be excavated wiil not exceed fifty miles, and the entire distance ef the passage will, it Js thought, be about 125 ruiles. Such are the arrange- iments wich have s@ far been made. THE PROSPECTS OF TRE EXPEDITION. At this early stage it is impossible to predict what the issue of the proposed operations will be, but it cau be fairly assumed that the present route is far more favorable than many tual have hitherto been | after its passage. So far the health of those engaged in the expee dition has, with a few exceptions, been very fair. The weather is changing for the better. Some cases of local fever arising from exposure have beem treated, No serious apprehensions in regard to tie pvuvrat health of the pertica making the Gurvey aro entertained, THE CANADIAN FISHERIES. Debate in the Dominion Parliament on the Fishery Question—Fenrs that Eagland May Sacrifice Colonial Rights. OTTAWA, Feb, 28, 1871. Hon. Mr. Mitchell, Minister of Marine and the Fisheries, spoke in the Senate last night on the fish- ery question, reviewing the whole subject. in the course of his remarks he suld:—Headland right was bused on the law of nations. He quoted in support of his argument tne opinion of Daniel Webster. He said the only question the Canadian government proposed to be settied was the geographical hmit of three miles from the coast, whether from headland to headland or to iolow the indentions of the coast. Senator L. De St. Just tought before England would ran the chances of war she would sacrifice some of our fishery rights. Senator Mitchell opposed this idea, and felt as~ sured that the representative trom Canada on the Commission would never agree to the resignation of our rignts Without obtaining the consent of Parila-~ ment and the people of Canada, TEE ARWANSAS EMIPEACHMENT FARCE. Ilegality of the Preliminary Froceedings in the Impeachment of Governor Clayton—The Case to bv Abanconed=The Governor Pre- paring to Leave for Washington. Mempitis, Feb, 27, 1871. A Little Rock special to-night says:—A discussion took place on the motion made by Governor Clay- ton instructing the fimpeachment managers to ap- pear at the bar of the Senate again and announce ‘the impeachment of the Governor and Chief Jus: ice, the motion heretofore given being Iliegal because no quorum was present when presented, The managers stated that they had given due no- tice, Whether ‘here was a quorum or not was not thelr business, The motion was finally carried, most of the demo- crats voting for it on the ground that the notice was iuegal. ‘There is a clause in the code which says that all arucles shail be presented within five days The Senate may dismiss articies if not presented within five d-ys after tueir passage in the House. There are also sundry rules which the absent Senu- tors prepared 11 the swamps and passed on Satur- day over the heads of a minority. ‘The operation of these rules and the previous question reuder it im- possible for the managers to prosecute the impeach- mnent. One of the rules allows only one attorney on each side to make an argument in thirty minutes. Another gives the majority power to rule out any- thing they desire by a majority vote. ‘The managers reuse to obey the instructions of the House to notify the Senate again, and it is un- derstood that they will to-morrow ask to be re- Hees on the ground that it is impossible to get justice. iv is said Governor Clayton is preparing to leave for Washington, ‘This evening he sent a message to both houses announcing that ie had signed the bill doing away with tke flity per cent penalty on the no! ment of taxes. Objections were made in both houses to its reception. EXPLOSION ON THE MISSISSIPPI. Explosion on the Steamer Rob Roy at Ste Louis—One Man Killed=Rescued ‘row Drownin, Sr. Lovrs, Feb, 28, 1371. About five o’clock this evening, as the steamer Rob Roy, hence to Keokuk, was passing Fort Wash- ington avenue, the steam blew out ner drambead, killing a colored man named West Robinson and knocking overboard Frank Nash, @ camel keeper, who was rescued. Two camels belonging to Van Amborgh’s menagerie, on board the steamer at the time, were aiso blown overboard. The boat was immediately landed, and during the rush for the shore William Moifett, also connected with the Menagerie, fell overboard with an infant in his arms; but both were rescued by Mike Gilion, Who: piunged into the river aod brought them both ashore. ‘There was considerable excitement among the passengers. Caroline Burke, a colored washerwoman, was ar- rested by Detective Hagan, of the Twenty-ninth precinet, yesterday afternoon, charged with stealing @ quantity of clothing from Mrs, Ananda Wesigott, of No, 200 West Forty-second street, while in her employ. valued at $159. She dented the cuarge be- fore Justice Cox at Jeflerson Market yesterday alter~ noon, but was held for examlnaljote