MRS. WILTON.  “The coast of Honduras was discovered by Columbus, in his last voyage, but its verdant beauties (for it is a lovely place.) could not win him to the shore.  Without landing, he continued on to the Isthmus of Darien, in search of that passage to India which was the aim of all his hopes, but which it was destined he should never see.”

EMMA.  “The Caribbean Sea contains the Caribbee Islands, which are also distinguished by the names of Windward and Leeward Isles.  The only one we should have to pass near in sailing out of this sea, is Tobago.”

MR. WILTON.  “But, Emma, are you going to leave this coast without a visit to Panama?”

EMMA.  “My only reason for so doing, dear papa, is because I know nothing about it, except that it is situated close to the Isthmus of Darien, and its chief town is Porto Bello.”

MR. WILTON.  “Panama is itself an isthmus, and is most luxuriant in vegetable productions, and could challenge competition with any part of the world, in the vigor and variety of its woods.  There are known to be growing there, no less than ninety-seven different qualities of wood.  It is famed, as most woody places are, for snakes and poisonous reptiles:  the country people will scarcely move abroad after nightfall for fear of them, and always carry a charm about their person to prevent injury from their bite.  This charm is an alligator’s tooth, stuffed with herbs, compounded and muttered over by some old woman.”

MR. BARRAUD.  “I have heard that toads at Porto Bello are so numerous, that it is the popular prejudice that the drops of rain are changed into toads; and even the more learned maintain that the eggs of this animal are raised with the vapors from the adjoining swamps, and being conveyed to the city by the succeeding rains, are there hatched.  They are large and frightful, many of them six inches in breadth; and after a night of rain, the streets are almost covered, so that it is impossible to walk any distance without crushing dozens of them.  The city is so badly situated, and the climate so unhealthy, that few persons can exist there, and it is justly termed by the Spaniards ‘La Sepultura de los Europeanos.’”

CHARLES.  “The people of Porto Bello are not particularly dainty.  I am sure I should starve there, for I could not consent to eat their food.  What do you think of shovel-nosed sharks being sold in the markets, and guanas—­which you know are lizards—­being considered a special treat? and then, worse than all, the country folks mostly feed upon monkeys.  How should you fare amongst them, George?  Could you make a dinner off a roasted monkey?”

GEORGE.  “I do not think I should enjoy it, but if I were very hungry, I might not be particular:  however, I must own I should even then prefer beef or mutton to lizards and monkeys.”