%9 6 zJME'KICJ. Chap. II. 



the chief City of the Province, being alfo a BiGiop's See, which is Suffragan to the 

 Arch-bifhop of Lima, and the ordinary Refidence of the Governor and Courts of 

 Tuftice for thefc Parts : It is feated likewife upon the South Sea, and fonear, that 

 at High- water the Ships are faid to Ride even under the Walls. Through this Town 

 the Wealth both of Peru and Spain pafleth once every Year 5 from Spain by Nombre 

 de Vios and Porto Sello, from whence whatfoever Merchandife or other Commodi- 

 ties come from Spain, are Tranfported to Panama by Land, and from thence by Sea 

 to all the Parts of Peru ^ and by Panama whatfoever comes from Peru, is fent 

 into Spain : It hath commonly a ftrongGarrifon of Soldiers in it, and is doubtlcfs 

 a Place otherwife well fortifi'd, being of fo great importance. From the Haven 

 Pericos three Ways lead to Panama, the firft along a Bridge over a River, whofe 

 Banks are great Fortifications to the City, the rather becaufe the River is deep, and 

 next it a Pool over-grown with Weeds. The Way from Nombre de Vios plain and 

 without Woods, is wafh'd by the Brook Levendero. The third runs along over a 

 Stone Bridge and Champain Grounds, that extend from the Haven Pericos to the 

 City. Eaftward from Panama appear feven Royal Houfes on a Rock, wherein the 

 Courts of Judicature are kept. Five hundred Rods into the Sea lies an Ifland re- 

 fembling a Half-Moon, and the Haven wherein the Ships when they unlade caft 

 Anchor, there being elfe not Water enough for laden Barques, and all lie dry , the 

 Tide being out : At the Mouth thereof (lands a woodden Sconce. The Places Venta 

 de Qru*e, Chagre, Quebrada, and Balhno,zxc alfo fortifi'd againft any Invafion, where 

 elfe an Enemy might eafily Land : But the ftrifteft Watch is kept at the River 

 Chagre, which Weftward below Nombre de Vios falling into the Northern Ocean, 

 brings the Ships up to Venta de Cru%e, from whence a Way fcarce five Leagues long 

 leads°to Panama. The Spanijh Commodities confifting moil in Meal, Oyl, Biskets, 

 Cloth and Silk/ are all brought from Nombre de Vios along the fame Way ; or elfe in 

 Winter when they cannot ftem the Current of the River Chagre, then they bring 

 their Goods by Land, not without great danger of being taken by the run-away 

 7S[egro*s, who fct upon them out of the Woods with poyfond Darts and Arrows . 

 and as many Spaniards as they take, fq many feveral ways they put them to death, 

 becaufe they formerly in the time of their Servitude were us'd with all imaginable 

 Cruelties. The Provisions fold here at a reafonablc Rate arc Mai^, Peruan-Me&\, 

 Poultrey, Honey, Cartel, Swine, Oranges, Lemmons, Cabbage, and all manner of 

 Garden Herbs or Plants. Round about the fore-mention'd Royal Houfes lie Bul- 

 warks, with a ftrongCaftle on one fide. A fair Cathedral denotes the Place tobe 

 a Bifhop's See : And the Francifcans, Dominicans, and Monks of the Order Pe k 

 Merced, inhabit feveral fair Cloyfters here. Two Leagues Weftward is the Haven 

 Pericos, which being fecur'd from all Winds by three high Ifles that lie before it, is 

 the chief Harbor in which thePm^wPlate-Fleet (confifting mod in fmall Barques) 

 comes to an Anchor before they touch at Panama. The Countrey is for the mod 

 part Mountainous, and in many places fends forth (linking Damps out of muddy 

 Pools ; yet in fome places are Savanna Grounds for Cattel to Graze in. The Air 

 would alfo be more unhealthful, if it were not clear'd by the Winds which blow 

 from the Sea. From July to OBober there fall continual Rains, mix'd with terrible 

 claps of Thunder. The Inhabitants often recreate themfelves in Hunting wild 

 Hoos, with Nets made of the Brambles call'd 7>{equen or Benachen, and that after a 

 ftranae manner : for they fet on fire the Bufhes all about the place wherejthey fup- 

 pofe the Game to lie, which to fhun the Fire runs into their Nets j fo that the 

 fame Bufhes are both their fhelter and deftru<ftion, as affording Material to make 

 the Nets wherein they are taken. Befides other Birds the Woods alio abound with 



Phcafants 



