I ^3 A VOYAGE TO BoaK TIL 



In this city is a tribunal or royal audience, in which 

 the governor of Panama prendes; and to this em- 

 ployment is annexed the captainfliip general of Terra 

 Firma, wliich is generally conferred on an officer of 

 diítinétion, though his common title is that of pre- 

 iident of Panama. It has alfo a cathedral, and a 

 chapter coniifting of the bifhop, and a number of 

 prebendaries ; an aujutamiento, or corporation, com- 

 pofed of alcaldes and regidores ; three officers of re- 

 venue, under an accomptant, trcafurer, and agent ; 

 and a court of inquiñtion appointed by the tribunal 

 of inquiñtion at Carihagena. The cathedral, and 

 alfo the convents, are of ftone; indeed, before the 

 conflagration, feveral of the latter were of wood ; but 

 that terrible misfortune ihewed tliem the ncceflity of 

 unng more folid materials. The convents are thofe 

 of the Dominicans, Franclfcans, Augultines, and 

 Fathers of Mercy ; a college of Jefuits, a nunnery of 

 the order of St. Clara, and an holpital of St. Juan de 

 Dios. The flender revenues will not admit of their 

 being very numerous; and accordingly the ornaments 

 of the churches are neither remarkably rich, nor con- 

 temptible. 



. The decorations of private houfcs arc elegant, but 

 not coftly ; and though there are here no perfons of 

 fuch monftrous fortunes as in fome cities of America, 

 it is not defiilutd of wealthy inhabitants, and all have 

 a fufficiency ; lb that, if it cannot be clafled among 

 opulent cilies, it is certainly above poverty. 



The harbour of this city is formed in its road, by 

 the fbtlter of levcral iilands, particularly Ifla de Naos, 

 de Perico, and FLnmencos: the anchoring-place is 

 before the fecond, and tlience called Perico. The 

 ihips here He very tafe ; and their diliance from the 

 city is about two and a half, or three leagues. 



The tides are regular; and, according to an ob- 

 fervation we made on the day of the conjunciion, it 

 was high-water at three in the evening. The water 



rifes 



