418 THE CITY OF PANAMA. 



be dried by exposure to the direct action of the sun or fire, and any damp articles left in the 

 shade became mouldy in forty-eight hours. The light wind experienced during the day was 

 almost constantly from the northward and westward ; at night it was variable. Meteorological 

 observations from March to May of the same year, by Col. Emory, U. S. A., published in 

 the Mem. Amer. Academy, Vol. V, New Series, show a greater mean pressure, a temperature 

 nearly 2 less, and the same prevailing light winds. This officer found the latitude of the 

 northwest bastion of the fortification to be 8 57' 12" N., its longitude 79 29' 24" W. 



I will close this account of the Isthmus by a free translation of a few extracts from a work enti- 

 tled Piratas de la America, y luz en la defensa de las costas de las Indias occidentales. Segunda 

 impression. En Colonia Agrippina, 1687. "On the 18th January, 1670_, Morgan set out from 

 the castle of Chagres with 1,200 men, five boats with artillery, and thirty-two canoes filled with 

 these people, directing his course up the stream for the city of Panama." 



After many difficulties, on the seventh day they arrived at a point on the river called 

 "Cruces, a village in latitude 9 02' N., sixteen Spanish leagues distant from the mouth of the 

 river Chagres, and eight leagues from Panama. This is the highest place to which one may 

 travel in boats ; for which reason storehouses have been erected here, where goods may be pre- 

 served until they come from Panama to seek them with troops of mules." There Morgan was 

 obliged to leave his canoes, and place them under the protection of a proper guard, in order 

 that his return down the river might be perfectly secured. 



On the ninth day they saw Panama and the islands from a high mountain, and, as is cus- 

 tomary with freebooters when the object of their wishes is in sight, they stole every animal 

 from the harmless people around them, and gorged themselves with eating and drinking. 



"The tenth day all the men were placed in order, and, to the sound of drums, they pursued 

 their march directly for the city. But one of the guides advised Morgan not to take the great 

 road, because he believed they would find much resistance from parties in ambush ; he therefore 

 selected another route that penetrated the forest, and was very difficult and toilsome. Then 

 the Spaniards, seeing that the pirates did not -pursue the road they expected, were obliged to 

 leave their fortresses and come to the encounter of their enemies. The Spanish General placed 

 his troops in order, consisting in squadrons, four battalions of infantry, and a very large number 

 of fierce bulls that many Indians, with some negroes and others, had brought to this end. 



"The pirates found themselves on a hill, from whence they could see to a long distance; and 

 discovering the extent of the forces from Panama, they feared them so much that every one 

 wished himself free from the obligation to fight or die. But now they were obliged to make a 

 virtue of necessity, and they resolved to die on the field of battle, knowing that there would be 

 no quarter shown them; and thus they resolved to shed the last drops of their blood. They 

 afterwards divided into three battalions, sending in advance 200 buccaneers, who are very dex- 

 terous with fire-arms. The pirates left the hill, and, descending, marched straight against the 

 Spaniards, who were posted on a good field, awaiting their opportune arrival. When the 

 enemy got near, they shouted ' Viva el rey!' and immediately made a charge against the pirates ; 

 but, as there are many swampy places in the country, they could not skirmish as they wished. 

 The 200 buccaneers knelt down and fired on them, whereupon a great battle commenced, on 

 which occasion they defended themselves valiantly, doing their best to throw the pirates into 

 disorder. And thus the infantry had to follow to second the cavalry, but the enemy made them 

 separate; so that, seeing the impossibility, they endeavored to drive the bulls behind the 

 pirates; but the greater part of them ran away, and those which passed through their lines did 

 no other harm than tear some English banners, and the pirates, shooting them, did not permit 

 one to remain alive. 



"Two hours passed in the combat, the larger portion of the Spanish cavalry being destroyed, 

 and almost all dead, the rest escaped. The infantry, seeing this, and that there was no chance 

 to conquer, discharged their muskets, threw them away, and every man took to flight, the best 

 that he could. \\, \yas impossible for the pirates to follow them, because they were tired after 



