CHAPTER Y. 



PANAMA. 



ALTHOUGH politically forming an integral part of Colombia, tLe 

 province of Panama belongs geographically to Central America, 

 of which it is even a typical section in its serpentine isthmian 

 contours. The political frontier towards Costa Eica has not yet 

 been definitely settled ; but in estimating the extent of the pro- 

 vince, the nearly straight line may be provisionally accepted which is traced on 

 the Colombian maps from the extremity of Burica Point in the Pacific to the 

 western headland of the Boca del Drago (" Dragon's Mouth "), at the entrance of 

 Almirante Bay, in the Caribbean Sea. The greater part of " ducal " Yera^-ua 

 granted to Luiz Colon is thus included in Colombia, while " royal " Yeragua, 

 stretching thence northAvards, is assigned to Costa Rica. 



The administrative limil s of the province towards South America pass far to 

 the north of the natural boundary, which is here so clearly indicated, between the 

 isthmian region and the southern continent. Within these somewhat conventional 

 frontiers the province of Panama comprises an area of about 32,000 square miles, 

 with a population estimated at 300,000. 



Physical Feature3. 



The main Costa Rican range is continued through Panama by mountains of 

 great elevation. Picacho, near the frontier, over 7,000 feet, is greatly exceeded 

 by its eastern neighbour, the extinct Chiriqui volcano, a perfect cone, nearly 

 11,400 feet high. At its eastern base the range is crossed by a pass which falls 

 to 3,600 feet, and still farther east by another about 4,000 feet, mentioned by the 

 traveller Morel. The crest rising between these two depressions to a height of 

 nearly 7,000 feet takes the name of Cerro de Horqueta, that is, " Mountain of the 

 Pass." Wheelwright and other explorers speak of even still less elevated saddle- 

 backs, falling even to less than 200 feet ; but their statements are not supported 

 by accurate surveys. 



Farther on the cordillera maintains a normal altitude of over 8,000 feet, and 

 here runs much nearer to the northern or Atlantic than to the Pacific coast, 

 where space is left for the vast plain of David. To this corresponds on the 

 opposite side the extensive inlet of the Chiriqui " lagoon," which gives its name 



