812 THE EEPUBLIC OF PANAMA. 



stories were related by the natives, many of which were justitied by 

 subsequent results. Ball)oa himself yisited the Pearl Islands in the Ba}^ 

 of Panama. These operations of the early Spaniards inyolyed fre- 

 quent crossing of the Isthmus, and eyen before the death of Balboa 

 it ))ecame evident that the most practicable line of transportation was 

 that which is now known as the Panama route. 



Many attempts were made to find other practicable routes across 

 the Isthmus l)etween the Atrato River, emptying into the Gulf of 

 Darien, and the Chagres River, emptying into the Caribbean Sea 8 

 miles west of Colon, but the advantages of the Panama route were 

 promptly recognized by the Spaniards. 



A ten-itory, consisting largel}^ of the present Panama, Colombia, 

 and Venezuela, was formed into the province of Tierra-tirma. It was 

 the governor of this province, Pedro Arias de Avila, who, to 

 strengthen his authority, brought charges against Balboa, and after a 

 form of trial executed him at Ada. By the middle of the sixteenth 

 century large numbers of Spaniards had migrated to this country and 

 created flourishing centers of trade. About this time, in order to 

 secure a more suitable government for his colony, the Spanish emperor 

 created the presidency of New Granada, which was subsequently 

 raised to the rank of a viceroyaltv in 1T18, then including not only 

 Colombia and Venezuela but Ecuador also. The territory of the 

 Isthmus formed the northwestern arm of this Spanish appanage. 



Like that of most Spanish colonies, the government of the country 

 was corrupt, l)eing administered largely for the ])enetit of the favored 

 few in authority; but on the whole the country flourished, the popula- 

 tion increased, and trade extended along the lines of production of the 

 country. 



THE REVOLUTION AGAINST SPANISH AUTHORITY. 



The course of afl'airs in the viceroyalty continued without much 

 change until 1811. Many features of the Spanish rule had long borne 

 heavily upon the people and aroused such feeling that at last they broke 

 out into an insurrection against the home government. A continuous 

 war against the Spanish forces sent to put down the insurrection con- 

 tinued until 1821, when Spanish authority disappeared. Meantime 

 the Venezuelan patriot, Simon Bolivar, born in the city of Caracas in 

 1783, made his way into prominence in national affairs, and in 1819 

 completed a mi ion of the three divisions of the country into the first 

 Republic of Colombia. This republic was short lived. Venezuela 

 withdrew in 1829 and Ecuador in 1830. The creation of the Repulilic 

 of New Granada followed in 1831, but its constitution was not formed 

 until 1832. Under it the territory was divided into eighteen provinces. 

 The president of the new republic held office four 3'ears. The course 

 of afli'airs was much disturbed, and a civil war broke out after one or 



