THE WEST INDIAN PORTS 



Chagre, and Quebrada, and fortified the garrison of 

 Ballano : for all these are places where the enemy may- 

 land, and by this meanes spoyle all this countrey. 



There are three sundry places where this citie may 

 without difficulty be taken, and spoyled by the Pirates. 

 The first is on the North seas in a certaine place which 

 lyeth foureteene leagues from Nombre de Dios, the place 

 is called Aele to the Eastwards, where once before 

 certaine men of warre have entred into those seas. The 

 other place is Nombre de Dios, although this is a bad 

 place and naughtie wayes, and full of waters and a very 

 dirtie way : for three partes of the yeere the countrey 

 people doe travell upon those waters, and an other very 

 badde way, which is the going up of certaine rockes and 

 mountaines which they must climbe, called the mountaines 

 of Capira, which are of height three quarters of a league, 

 so in this place with very small store of souldiers wee 

 can defend our selves from the fury of the enemie, so 

 these dwellers doe say that in Sommer the wayes are very 

 good without either dirt or water. 



The other entrance is up the river of Chagre, which 

 rivers mouth lyeth eighteene leagues from Nombre de 

 Dios to the Westwards falling into the North sea, and 

 this is the place which the citizens of Panama doe most 

 feare, for they may come up this river to Venta de 

 Cruzes, and so from thence march to this citie, which is 

 but five leagues off. So up this river there goe boates 

 and barkes which doe carry 320. Quintals waight. These 

 are they which carry the most part of the marchandize 

 which doe come from Spaine to be transported to 

 Peru, and from Venta de Cruzes it is carried to 

 Limaret which is three leagues off that place, and the 

 dwellers doe report that it is a very good way : and if 

 any men of warre will attempt to come into these seas, 

 they may very easily come up this river as farre as Venta 

 de Cruzes, and from thence march unto this citie, and 

 if the enemy will, they may bring their pinnesses ready 

 made in foure quarters, and so taken in sunder, may 



A.D. 



1587. 



I. Place. 



2. Place. 

 This was 

 Oxenham. 



3. Place. 



The place of 

 most advan- 

 tage/or the 

 English. 



