Letter by California Gold Rush Venturer Charles A. Wood, Written from the Isthmus of Panama, February 1, 1850

Letter from Charles A. Wood to his wife, Caroline Wood in Neponsett, MA, dated New Oranada, Panama, February 1, 1850, giving a description of his overland trip through the Isthmus of Panama from Yankeetown (Chagres) to New Oranada as part of his journey to California. He gives a detailed description of Yankeetown and Chagres; the vegetation and physical configuration of the jungles; the natives; the "ranchos" owned by Americans which were visited along the route; the conditions on board the steamship "Cherokee" which brought him to Panama; the inland town of Gorgona. Also included is one leaf on which is drawn a rough diagram of the settlement at Yankeetown and a picture of a "rancho" on the River Chagre "as seen from a canoe". On the reverse is a rough architectural drawings of a church and a courthouse.