132 A VOYAGE TO Book III. 



Though the mines of Veraguas and Panama are 

 not expoled to thefe dangers, yet they are not worked 

 with more vigour tlian the others ; and this for two 

 reaibns : the firil is, that, beiides their being lefs rich 

 in metal than the others, the gold they yield is not of 

 lo good a quality as that of Darien : the fecond, and 

 indeed the mofl: weighty, is, that as thefe feas, by their 

 rich produce of pearls, offer a more certain, and at 

 the tame time a more eafy profit, they apply them- 

 felves to this fifhery preferably to the mines. Some, 

 indeed, though but few, are worked, beñdes thofe 

 above mentioned, on the frontiers of Darien. 



BtsiDEs the advantage arifing to Panama from its 

 commerce, as the revenue here is not equal to the dif- 

 burfements, a very coniiderable fura of money is an- 

 nually remitted hither from Lima, for the payment of 

 the troops, the officers of the audience, and others in 

 employment under his majeily. 



CHAP. VI. 



ExleJit of the Audience of Panama^ in the King' 

 doni of 'Terra Firma, 



'HE city of Panama is not only the capital of its 

 particular province, but alio of the whole king- 

 dom of Terra Firma, which confuís of the three pro- 

 vinces of Panama, Darien, and Veraguas. The firft 

 is the tent of every branch of the government, as being 

 fituated between tlie other two ; Darien lying on the 

 eatl fide, and Veraguas on the well. 



The kingdom of Terra Firma begins northwards 

 at the river of' Darien, and ilretching along by Nom- 

 bre de Dios, Bocas del Toro, Bahía del Almirante, is 

 terminated wcfiwarci by the river -de los Dorados in 

 the north lea ; and towards the fouth lea, beginning 

 on ll;e weltern part, it extends from Punta Gorda, in 



Cofia 



