THE WEST INDIAN PORTS a.d. 



1587. 

 with water continually by reason of much raine which 



doth fall upon the hils. It is a very bad harbour, 



neither is there any good water : and it is subject to 



Northerly winds and Easterly windes, which continually 



doe blow upon this coast : many of the great ships which 



doe come to this place doe unlade halfe their commodities 



betweene the two ledges of rockes, for that there is but 



little water in the harbour: and after that a ship hath [III. 552.] 



unladen halfe of her goods, then shee goeth to the second 



rocke, as it doth appeare by the platforme, but the small 



ships come neere unto another rocke on the West side. 



If the winde chance to come to the North and Northwest, 



and that it overblowe, then such great ships as then be 



in the roade must of force more themselves with sixe 



cables a head, especially in a storme, and yet nevertheless 



sometimes they are driven ashore and so cast away, and 



all because they dare not vier cable ynough, because of 



so many shelves and rockes which are in both those 



places : also the shippes doe roule very much in the 



harbour, by reason in foule weather the Sea will bee 



mightily growen, which is the cause that their cables do 



oftentimes breake, and their ruthers are unhanged, the 



cause thereof is by reason the shippes doe ride but in 



little water, yet goeth there a great sea. 



The citie is builded and situated very well if it were a 

 good harbour, it standeth upon the Eastside upon a rocke 

 where they may builde a very good fort, according to the 

 platforme for the safegard of this harbour : but seeing 

 it is but a bad haven and shallow water, therefore I 

 doe thinke that it is not needefull for your majestie 

 to be at any charges in fortifying that place, but onely 

 a trench to be made of earth or clay, so that these 

 townesmen may defend themselves from danger of 3. 

 or 4. ships. 



The citie of Panama is eighteene leagues from Nombre 

 de Dios, the wayes are exceeding bad thitherwards; 

 yet notwithstanding all the silver is brought this way 

 to Nombre de Dios, as well your majesties treasure 



143 



