A.D. 

 1570. 



The smal force 

 of Havana. 



The commodi- 

 ties of Cuba. 



Nombre 

 Dios. 



Panama. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



lieth a sandy shore, where men may easily go aland ; and 

 by the tower there runneth a hill along by the waters 

 side, which easily with small store of ordinance subdueth 

 the towne and port. The port within is so large that 

 there may easily ride a thousand saile of ships without 

 anker or cable, for no winde is able to hurt them. There 

 inhabit within the towne of Havana about three hundred 

 Spanyards, and about threescore souldiers, which the king 

 mainteineth there for the keeping of a certeine castle 

 which hee hath of late erected, which hath planted in it 

 about twelve pieces of small ordinance, and is compassed 

 round with a small ditch, wherethorow at their pleasure 

 they may let in the sea. About two leagues from 

 Havana there lieth another towne called Wanabacoa, in 

 which there is dwelling about an hundred Indians, and 

 from this place 60 leagues there lieth another towne 

 named Bahama, situate on the North side of the Island. 

 The chiefest city of this Island of Cuba (which is above 

 200 leagues in length) is also called Sant lago de Cuba, 

 where dwelleth a bishop & about two hundred Spanyards ; 

 which towne standeth on the South side of the Island 

 about 100 leagues from Havana. All the trade of this 

 Island is cattell, which they kill onely for the hides that 

 are brought thence into Spaine : for which end the Span- 

 yards mainteine there many negroes to kil their cattell, 

 and foster a great number of hogs, which being killed, 

 and cut into small pieces, they dry in the Sun, and so 

 make it provision for the ships which come for Spaine. 

 Having remained in this Island two moneths, I tooke 

 shipping in a frigat, and went over to Nombre de Dios, 

 and from thence by land to Panama, which standeth upon 

 the South sea. From Nombre de Dios to Panama is 17 

 leagues distance : from which towne there runneth a river 

 which is called the river of Chagre, which runneth within 

 5 leagues of Panama, to a place called Cruzes, thorow 

 which river they cary their goods, and disimbarke them 

 at the sayd Cruzes, and from thence they are conveyed 

 on mules backs to Panama by land ; where they againe 



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