THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 13 



of the South American Pacific coast. That it was 

 made the shipping port for the products of the South 

 American mines, in a great measure, there may be 

 no doubt ; but that " bars of silver and ingots of 

 gold were piled in the streets, without fear or anxiety 

 for their safety," we can hardly credit, even in this 

 golden age, although all this is positively asserted ; 

 and that " gorgeous displays of specie were witnessed 

 in these times," and that trade was so abundant and 

 profitable, that " the rent of a floor in some of the 

 houses cost the prodigious sum of one thousand dol- 

 lars per month," is scarcely credible. The writer 

 we quote remarks, that this was " her golden age." 

 It must have been, for she looks very unlike it now. 

 A very strong fortification was built here, the walls 

 of which are in a tolerably good state of preservation 

 to this time ; but there is no need of her watch-tow- 

 ers or sentinels now, for no one goes there who can 

 keep it, there being no inducement to do so ; and, 

 moreover, from the reputed unhealthiness of the 

 place, it is avoided as much as possible. The town 

 is built at the foot of high mountains, and the harbor 

 is so land-locked that the sea breeze is mostly shut 

 out, consequently the causes of disease are not only 

 generated, but retained there. It was, probably, 

 during those brilliant days of Porto Bello, that the 

 Fort San Lorenzo was built at the mouth of the 

 Chagres River. How different must have been 

 the scenes at these places, while the busy sounds of 

 the builders were to be heard in these stupendous 



