about three PM
To the left of the town , there was a whole flotilla of small craft , brigs , schooners , and vegetable boats ; while farther out at sea , beyond the fortifications , three large ships rode at anchor ; and beyond them again , the beautiful group of islands lying about five miles off the town , appeared to float on and were reflected in the calm , glasslike expanse of the Pacific , like emeralds chased in silver , while the ocean itself , towards the horizon , seemed to rise up like a scene in a theatre , or a burnished bright silver wall , growing more and more blue , and hazy and indistinct , as it ascended , until it melted into the cloudless heaven , so that no one could tell where water and sky met . `` Thou glorious mirror , in all time , Calm or convulsed -- in breeze , or gale , or storm , Icing the pole , or in the torrid clime Dark heaving boundless , endless , and sublime , The image of Eternity -- the throne Of the Invisible . '' While a sperm whale every now and then rose between us and the islands , and spouted up a high double jet into the air , like a blast of steam , and then , with a heavy flounder of his broad tail , slowly sank again ; and a boat here and there glided athwart the scene , and a sleepy sail arose with a slow motion and a fitful rattle , and a greasy cheep , on the mast of some vessel , getting all ready to weigh , while small floating trails of blue smoke were streaming away astern from the tiny cabooses of the craft at anchor , and a mournful distant `` yo heave oh '' came booming past us on the light air , and the everlasting tinkle of the convent bells sounded cheerily , and the lowing of the kine around us called up old associations in my bosom , as I looked forth on the glorious spectacle from beneath a magnificent bower of orange-trees and shaddocks , while all manner of wild-flowers blossomed and bloomed around us . We arrived at Panama about three PM , covered to the eyes with mud , and after some little difficulty , I found out Senor Hombrecillo Justo 's house , who received me very kindly . Next morning I waited on the Governor , made my bow and told him my errand . He was abundantly civil ; professing himself ready to serve me in any way , and promising to give me the earliest intelligence of the arrival of the Bandera . I then returned to mine host 's , to whom I had strong letters of introduction from some Kingston friends .