ULLOa's voyage to south AMERICA. 375 



forfaken ; the Inhabitants, on feeing their men defeated, having retired Into the woods. 

 He now plundered it at his leifure ; and, after flaying fome days, agreed, for a large 

 ranfom, to evacuate it without damaging the buildings ; but, after the payment of the 

 money, the city was fet on fire, by accident, as they gave out, and as the hiftory of 

 his adventures relates ; but it is much more probable that it was done by defign. To 

 pretend it was owing to accident, feemed to them the bed palliative for their violating 

 the treaty. 



This misfortune rendering it abfolutely neceffary to rebuild the city, it was removed 

 to its prefent fituation, which is about a league and a half from the former, and much 

 more convenient. It has a wall of free-flone, and is defended by a large garrifon of 

 regulars ; whence detachments are fent to do duty at Darien, Porto Bello, and Chagre. 

 Near the city, on the north-weft, is a mountain called Ancon, whofe perpendicular 

 height, by a geometrical menfuration, we found to be one hundred and one toifes. 



The houfes, in general, when we vifited this city, were of wood, having but one 

 ftory, and a tiled roof, but large ; and from their difpofition, and the fymmetry of their 

 windows, made a handfome appearance. A few were of ftone. Without the walls is 

 an open fuburb, larger than the city itfelf, and the houfes of the fame materials and 

 conftrudion as thofe within, except fuch as border on the country, moft of which are 

 thatched with ftraw ; and among them fome bujios, or huts. The ftreets, both of the 

 city and fuburb, are ftraight, broad, and, for the moft part, paved. 



Though the greater part of the houfes were formerly of wood, fires were rarely 

 known at Panama, the nature of the timber being fuch, that if any fire is laid on 

 the floor, or placed againft a wall, it is productive of no other confequence than 

 that of making a hole, without kindling into a flame ; and the fire itfelf extinguilh- 

 ed by the afhes. But, notwithflanding this excellent quahty in the wood. In the year 

 1737, the city was almoft entirely confumed, the goodnefs of the timber being 

 unable to fecure it from the ravages of the flames ; indeed, by the concurrence of 

 another caufe, the timber was then rendered more combuftible. The fire began 

 in a cellar, where, among other goods, there were great quantities of pitch, tar, 

 naphtha, and brandy ; thefe inflammable fubftances rendered this fingular kind of 

 wood a more eafy prey to the devouring flames. In this conflagration the fuburb owed 

 its fafety to its diftance" from the city, which is one thoufand two hundred toifes. 

 Since this misfortune, it has been again rebuilt ; and the greater part of the houfes are 

 now of ftone, all forts of materials for buildings of this kind being here In the greateft 

 plenty. 



In this city is a tribunal or royal audience, in which the governor of Panama prefides ; 

 and to this employment is annexed the captainfhip general of Terra Firma, which is 

 generally conferred on an officer of diftinftion, though his common title is that of pre- 

 fident of Panama. It has alfo a cathedral, and a chapter confifting of the bifhop, and 

 a number of prebendaries ; an aujutamiento, or corporation, compofed of alcaldes and 

 regldores ; three officers of revenue, under an accomptant, treafurer, and agent ; and a 

 court of inquifition appointed by the tribunal of inquifition at Carthagena. The cathe- 

 dral, and alfo the convents, are of ftone ; Indeed, before the conflagration, feveral of the 

 latter were of wood ; but that terrible misfortune fhewed them the neceffity of ufing 

 more folid materials. The convents are thofe of the Dominicans, Francifcans, Auguf- 

 tines, and Fathers of Mercy ; a college of Jefuits, a nunnery of the order of St. Clara, 

 and an hofpital 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 contemptible. 



The 



