2 go ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 



CHAP. V. — Of the Trade and Commerce of Panama. 



FROM what has been faid relating to the commerce of Porto Bello in the time of 

 the gaJleons, an idea may be formed of that of Panama on the fame occafion ; this city 

 being the firft where the treafure from Peru is landed, and likewife the ftaple for the 

 goods brought up the river Chagre. This commerce is of the greateft advantage to the 

 inhabitants, both with regard to letting their houfes, the freight of veiTels, the hire of 

 mules and Negroes, who, forming themfelves into feparate bodies, draw along from 

 Cruces large bales, or any brittle and delicate wares ; the roads here, though the dif- 

 tance is but fhort by croffing the chain of mountains called the Cordilleras, are in fome 

 parts fo narrow, that a beaft of burden can hardly pafs along ; and, confequently, an 

 imminent danger would attend the employing of mules for this fervice. 



This city, even during the abfence of the armada, is never without a great number 

 of ftrangers ; it being the thoroughfare for all going to the ports of Peru, in the South 

 Sea, as alfo for any coming from thence to Spain : to which muft be added, the con- 

 tinual trade carried on by the Peruvian fhips, which bring variety of goods, as meal of 

 ' different forts, wines, brandy from grapes, or brandy caftilla, as it is called by all the 

 Americans in thefe parts, fugar, tallow, leather, olives, oil, and the like. The fhips 

 from Guayaquil bring cacao, and quinquina or Jefuits* bark ; which always meet with a 

 quick exportation here, efpecially in time of peace. All goods, particularly thofe of 

 Peru, are fubjeft to great alterations in their prices, fo that, on many occafions, the 

 owners lofe confiderably, and fometimes their whole purchafe : on the other hand, 

 there are favourable opportunities, when they triple it, according to the plenty or 

 fcarcity of the commodity. The different forts of meals are in particular fubjed to this 

 accident ; they foon becoming fo extremely vitiated by the great heat, that there is an 

 abfolute neceflity for throwing them overboard. The wines and brandies alfo, from the 

 heat of the jars, contraft a pitchy tafle, and are foon unfit for ufe. The tallow melts, 

 becomes full of maggots, and turns into a kind of earth ; the fame may be obferved of 

 other goods. Hence, if the gain is fometimes great, the rifk of the lofs is proportional. 



The coafting barks, which make frequent trips from the adjacent ports, fupply the 

 city with hogs, poultry, hung-beef, hogs'-lard, plantanes, roots, and other eatables ; 

 with all which, this city, by the induftry of others, is abundantly fupplied. 



The Peru and Guayaquil vefTels, unlefs at the time when the armada is here, return 

 empty, except when they have an opportunity of taking Negroes on board ; as, while 

 the afliento fubfifts, there is at Panama a factory, or office, which correfponds with that 

 at Porto Bello; and hither the Negroes are brought, as being, in fome meafure, the 

 ftaple for them, with regard to the kingdoms of Terra Firma and Peru. 



The prefident of Panama is inverted with a power of licenfing every year one or two 

 Ihips, which go to Sonfonate, el Realejo, and other ports in the province of Guatemala 

 and New Spain, to fetch from thence tar, naphtha, and cordage, for the veiTels belongr 

 ing to the Panama trade ; they carry thither fuch parts of the Peruvian goods as do not 

 find a market at Panama ; but few of the fhips which have obtained this permiflion 

 return immediately ; for the moft profitable part of their trade confifting of indigo, they 

 make the beft of their way to Guayaquil, or other ports farther to the fouthward. The 

 dearnefs of provifions in this city and its diftrid, occafioned by the large quantity re- 

 quired, and the great diftance from whence they are brought, is amply compenfated by 

 the multitude and value of the pearls found in the oyfters of its gulf j and particularly 

 thofe near the iflands del Rey, Tabaga, and others, to the number of forty-three, form- 

 ing; 



