Ch.il SOUTH AMERICA. 115 



kings of Caftile. The difcovery of Panama was, in 

 the year 1518, followed by the fettlement of a colony 

 there, under Pedrarias Davila, governor of Caflilla 

 del Oro, the name by which this Terra Firma was 

 then called. And in 1521, his catholic majefly, the 

 emperor Charles V. conftitutcd it a city, with tlie 

 proper privileges. 



It was this city's misfortune, in the year 1670, to 

 be facked and burnt by John Morgan, an Englifli 

 adventurer. He had before taken Porto Bello and 

 Maracaybo ; and, retiring to the iflands, he every 

 where publifhed his defign of going to Panama; upon 

 which many of the pirates, who then infeiled thofe 

 feas, joined him. He firil failed for Chagre, where 

 he landed fome of his men, and at the fame time 

 battered the caftle with his fhips ; but his fuccefs 

 was owing to a very extraordinary accident. His 

 ftrength was coniiderably diminiflied by the great 

 numbers killed and wounded by the fort, and he 

 began to think it advifable to retreat ; when an 

 arrow, fhot from the bow of an Indian, lodged in the 

 e3'e of one of Morgan's companions. The perfon 

 wounded, rendered defperate by the pain, with a re- 

 markable tirmnefs and prefence of mind drew the 

 arrow from the wound, and wrapping one of its ends 

 in cotton, or tow, put it into his mulket, which was 

 ready loaded, and difcharged it into the fort, where 

 the roofs of the houfes were of ftraw, and the ndes of 

 wood, according to the cuflom of that country. The 

 arrow fell on one of the roofs, and immediately fct it 

 on fire, which was not at firñ obferved by the be- 

 fieged, who were bufy in defending the place ; but 

 the tmoke and flames foon informed them of the total 

 defirucVion of the ibrt, and of the magazine of 

 powder, which the flames muft foon reach. This 

 unexpected accident filled them with terror and con- 

 fulion ; the courage pf the foldiers degenerated into 

 tumult and difobedience ; and, every one being eager 



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