112 A VOYAGE TO Book lif, 



feme entirely white ; others of the fame colour, except 

 the neck and fome parts of the body, which are red ; 

 others black, only the jjeck, tips ot the wjngs and the 

 belly white ; and fome, with other mixture of colours ; 

 and all ditFcTing in iize. The fpecit-s firft mentioned 

 are the leali ; the white mixed with black the largeft 

 and mofl palatable. The flefh of peacocks, phea- 

 fants, and other kinds, is very delicate *. The 

 trees along the banks of this river are furprifingly 

 loaded with fruit; but the pine-apples, for beauty, 

 iize, flavour, and fragrancy, excel thofe of all other 

 countries, and are highly eflccmed in all parts of 

 America. 



On our arrival at Cruces, we went on fhore, and 

 were entertained by the alcalde of the town, whofe 

 houfe was that of the cuftoms, where an account is 

 taken of all goods brought up the river. Having, 

 with all poffible difpatch, got every thing ready for 

 our journey to Pan«ina, on the 29th, at half an hour 

 after eleven in the morning, we let out, and reached 

 that city by three quarters after fix in the evening. 

 We made it our firll: bufmefs to wait on the prcfidenf, 

 a mark of refpeét due, not only to his dignity, but alfo 

 for the many civilities he had fhcwn us. This worthy 

 gentleman received us all, and particularly the fo- 

 reigners, in the raoi} cordial and endearing manner. 

 He alfo recommended to all the king's officers, and 

 other perfons of diítinítion in the city, not to be want- 

 ing in any good office, or mark of efteem : a beha- 

 viour which ffiewed at once the \vei";ht of the roval 

 orders, and his zeal to execute his fovereign's plea- 

 fure. 



Some indilpenfable preparations; which were to be 

 made for the profecution of our journey, detained us 

 longer at Pananra than we expeéted. We however 



* The fifliy tafte, which moil of the fowls in this country have, is 

 an exception to their dehcacy as food, A. 



employed 



