382 tJLLOA's VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 



faftened to the Negroes* bodies, that they may be upon their guard ; many, on the 

 divers being in danger, have thrown themfelves into the water, with the like weapon, 

 and haften down to their defence : but too often all their dexterity and precaution is not 

 fufficient to proted the diver from being devoured by thefe fifli, or lofmg one of his 

 legs or arms by their bite. Several ineffedlual fchemes have been pradtifed, to prevent 

 fuch melancholy accidents. 



The pearls of thefe fifheries are generally of a good water, and fome very remarkable, 

 both in their fliape and fize ; but as there is a difference in both thefe properties, fo 

 there is alfo a difference in their water and colour ; fome being highly valuable, and 

 others as remarkably defective. Some of thefe pearls, though indeed but few, are fent 

 to Europe, the greater part being carried to Lima ; where the demand for them is very 

 great, being not only univerfally worn there by all perfons of rank, but alfo fent from 

 thence into the inland parts of Peru. 



Befides thefe pearls, the kingdom of Terra Firma was formerly equally remarkable 

 for the fine gold produced by the mines in its territories ; and which confequently 

 proved a very confiderable addition to its riches. Part of thefe mines were in the pro- 

 vince of Veraguas, others in that of Panama ; but moft, alfo the richeft, and whofe 

 metal was of the fineft quality, were in the province of Darien ; and, on that account, 

 the conflant objeft of the miners. But the Indians revolting, and making themfelves 

 mafters of the whole province, there was a neceflity for abandoning thefe mines, by 

 which means the greater part of them were loft ; a few only remaining on the frontiers, 

 which ftill yield a fmall quantity of gold. Their produce might indeed be increafed, 

 did not the fear of the fickle nature of the Indians, and the fmall confidence that can 

 be placed on their apparent friendfhip, deter the mafters of the mines from taking pro- 

 per meafures for improving them. 



Though the mines of Veraguas and Panama are not expofed to thefe dangers, yet 

 they are not worked with more vigour than the others ; and this for two reafons : the 

 firft is, that, befides their being lefs rich in metal than the others, the gold they yield is 

 not of fo good a quality as that of Darien : the fecond, and indeed the moft weighty, is, 

 that as thefe feas, by their rich produce of pearls, offer a more certain, and at the fame 

 time a more eafy profit, they apply themfelves to this fifhery preferably to the mines. 

 Some, indeed, though but few, are worked, befides thofe above mentioned, on the 

 frontiers of Darien. 



Befides the advantage arifmg to Panama from its commerce, as the revenue here is 

 not equal to the diflDurfements, a very confiderable fum of money is annually remitted 

 hither from Lima, for the payment of the troops, the officers of the audience, and others 

 in employment under His Majefty. 



CHAP. VI. — Extent of the Audience of Panama, in the Kingdom of Terra Firma** 



THE city of Panama is not only the capital of its particular province, but alfo of the 

 whole kingdom of Terra Firma, which confifts of the three provinces of Panama, Da- 

 rien, and Veraguas. The firft is the feat of every branch of the government, as being 

 fituated between the other two ; Darien lying on the eaft fide, and Veraguas on the 

 weft. 



* The appellation of Terra Firma has been abfurdly extended by our mariners to Caraccaa, &c. 



The 



