Cu. I. SOUTH AMERICA. lo;; 



BOOK IIÍ. 



Voyage from Porto Bello to Panama, 



CHAP. I. 



Voyage up the Chagre^ and Journey from Cruces t9 

 Panama by Land, 



AS it had always been our fixed defign to fiay no 

 longer than abfolutely neceflary in any place, 

 till we had anfwered the great end of our coramiilion, 

 our ardour to enter upon it, together with a defire of 

 quitting this dangerous climate, induced us to make 

 the utmoft difpatch. In order to this, we fent advice 

 from Porto Bello, to Don Dionyiio Martinez de la 

 Vega, prelldent of Panama, of our arrival, the mo- 

 tives of our voyage, and other circumflances, together 

 with his mijefty's orders relating to the affiftance to 

 be given us by all his ofHcers ; adding our requeils, 

 that he would be pleafed to fend one or two of thofc 

 veffels ufed on the Chagre, to bring us to Panama, it 

 being impracticable for us to travel thither by land, as 

 fome of the iniiruments wete too large for the narrow 

 craggy roads in many parts, and others of a nature not 

 to be carried on mules. This gentleman, who has 

 alvvays fhewn a remarkable zeal for every thing digni- 

 fied with his majefty's name, was not in the lead 

 wanting on this occafion ; and his polite reply, 

 which fully anfwered our men fanguine hopes, was 



followed 



