THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 27 



True to the policy of Spain in all her transatlantic 

 possessions, her governors were always soldiers, and 

 the sites of her cities were invariably chosen more 

 with reference to military resources than for com- 

 merce. A good harbor, where a ship could lie close 

 to the shore, and receive or discharge her cargo, was 

 a thing to be dreaded. Oh, no ! choose some spot 

 on an open roadstead, where no vessel of any burthen 

 can approach nearer than cannon shot, and would 

 have to embark or disembark in small boats, giving 

 time to the garrison to sink them if an enemy. In 

 reference to these views the present site of the city 

 was chosen. 



The fear of death or of further robbery by the 

 freebooters, had the effect upon the houseless in- 

 habitants of driving from their minds much of the 

 sadness they naturally felt for their recent loss, 

 and set them to work with alacrity in building up 

 and fortifying their new city ; at the same time, it is 

 but natural to believe, that after the fatigues of the 

 day, they could not but regret the comforts of which 

 they had so recently been bereft. Their " Beautiful 

 City," with its six thousand houses, constructed of 

 cedar wood — its eight convents — its cathedral — its 

 hospital, and its numerous gardens and villas, owned 

 by its wealthy merchants, that stretched far into the 

 surrounding country — their haciendas, where they 

 could retire at different seasons — their mines of gold, 

 worked by their negro slaves, brought by the Geno- 

 ans, many of whom had been captured and retained 

 by themselves were all sources of melancholy ; but 



