Those who travelled over the Isthmus in those days will remember that boats on the Chagres River were propelled by natives not inconveniently burdened with clothing.

These boats carried thirty to forty passengers each.

The crews consisted of six men to a boat, armed with long poles.

There were planks wide enough for a man to walk on conveniently, running along the sides of each boat from end to end.

The men would start from the bow, place one end of their poles against the river bottom, brace their shoulders against the other end, and then walk to the stern as rapidly as they could.