Chap. II. iA M E 3L I C A . 395 



new Kingdom of Granada. It is call'd fometimes Terra Firma, becaufe it was one 

 of the firft pares of firm Land which the Spaniards touched upon, after they had 

 pafs'd fo many Iflands, as feem'd for fome time to block up, and bar them from 

 the Continent of America : It is fubdivided into thefc inferior Provinces or Coun* 

 treys, Wjfc is Panama. i.Varien. 3. Nov a Andalusia. 4. Sr. Martha. 5. Laftly, the 

 little Province Ve la Hatha. 



The chief Rivers of the Province of Panama are 1: Chagre,zs it was antiently call'd, Riw ' : ' 

 but afterwards from the great number of Crocodiles that harbor in it, G(jo de La- 

 gartos, falling into the North Sea between Nombre de Vios and Porto Bellano. 2. Sar- 

 dtnilla. 3. Sardina. 4. Qfjo de fcolubros, fo call'd from the abundance of Snakes 

 breeding thereabouts. 5. <%Jo de Comagre, which falls into the fame Sea. 6. Chepo, 

 famous in times pad for its GokUSands. 7. %io deHalfas, whofe Banks are fliaded 

 with good Timber-Trees. 8. <%jo de Congo, which falls into St. Michaels Bay. 



Sect. II. 



anama. 





antient 



P Anama, commonly call'd The Dijlritl, or Circle of Panama, is bounded Eaftward DjfcHp* 

 with the Gulf, or fBay of Urraba, by which it is feparated from the reft of the ° 

 Continent of this Southern part of America 5 on the Weft it hath Veragua, one 

 of the Provinces of Guatimala- being on both the other fides wafh'd with the Sea : 

 It is fuppos'd to contain in length from Carthagena and Popay an, to the Confines of 

 Veragua, about eighty or ninety Leagues, in breadth not above threefcore in any 

 part • and where it is narroweft, Yt%. betwixt the City of Panama and TS{ombre de 

 Vios, if meafur'd by a right Line, not above fix or feven over from Sea to Sea. It 

 lieth almoft under the Equinottial Line, but a few Degrees Northward of it, and 

 therefore fomewhat hot, and by the neighborhood of both Seas fubjeel: to a foggy 

 and grofs Air, in comparifon of fome other parts 5 fo that it is not counted generally 

 fo healthful a Countrey, efpecially for Strangers, and in Summer-time. 



Theantient Divifion of Panama, according to the Lordfliips of the Qafiques that The 

 thenGovern'd, were thefe following : Car eta, Ada, Comagre, Chiam, Coyba, Chame, *"*»»> 

 Chiru,Nata,Tobre,Trota, Haylia,£urica, and Efcotia, where the South Sea with the 

 Spring-Tides flowing over the Plains, at its return being hardned by the Sea, is 

 turn'd into Salt ; but as it hath always hapned in all other Countreys of the World, 

 that with the alteration of Government, the Divifion of the Countrey, and the 

 Names of Places have totally chang'd, fo alfo here the antient Divifion of Regions 

 and Territories muft give place to the Modern. 



The antient Inhabitants of thefe Parts were a very warlike People, the Women The Mature 

 always accompanying their Husbands in the Wars. They us'd to hang on the tops ^m£c 

 of their Standards the Bones of their greateft Heroes, thereby to animate their SoL 

 diers. Their Arms confided of poyfonous Arrows, Stone Swords, and Pikes made 

 of the PaltruTrees. They alfo carried with them the Idol Chiapa, to whom they 

 Offer'd living Children at the beginning of their Wars, and afterwards making 

 Merry with the Flelh, anointed the Image with the Blood : Moreover, if they re- 

 turn'd home Conquerors, they fpent feveral days in all manner of Debaucheries, as 

 Drinking, Singing, Dancing, Cutting their Prifoners Throats, with their Blood 

 alfo anointing their Image. But if they were conquer'd, then they invented new 

 Offerings to reconcile themfelves with their Idol. 



The chief Towns and Places which the Spaniards inhabit here, are 1, Panama, l^J$& 



Pp 2 the notc - 



I 



