^ ^/^Ifthmus'^f America, , 53 



' of which arejdie River of Santa Maria, and 

 the River of Congo 3 tho' there are others of 

 a confiderable bignefs. Of thefe Rivers, to 

 the Southward of Santa Maria, one is cal- 

 led the Gold River, affording Cold Du&goMr. 

 in great Plenty : For hither the Spaniards of 

 Panama and Santa Maria Town bring up 

 . their Slaves to gather up the Gold Duft. 



The next to the Gold River is that of 

 Santa Maria, fo called from the Town of R. Sant* 

 that Name feated on the South-fide of it, Mark - 

 at a good diftance from the Sea. It was 

 along this River we came, when we firft 

 entred the South Seas with Capt. Sharp, 

 ftanding over it, from the Bay by Golden I- 

 Hand, where we landed. We then took 

 the Town of Santa Maria in our way 5 sunt a 

 which was garrifond with about 200 Spanifb Marja 

 Soldiers, but was not very ftrong, having own# 

 no Walls 5 and the Fort it felf was fecur'd 

 with Stockadoes only, or Palifadoes. This 

 is but a new Town, being built by the Spa- 

 niards of Panama, partly for a Garifon 

 and Magazine of Provifion, and partly for 

 Quarters of Refrefhment, and a retiring 

 Place for their Work-men in the Gold River. 

 The Country all about here is Woody and The 

 Low, aad very unhealthy ^ the Rivers being ^™ try 

 fo Oazy, that the ftinking Mud Infefts the ° UC * 

 Air : But the little Village of Scuchadero, Scuchade- 

 lies on the Right-fide of the River of Santa™ v < 

 Maria, near the Mouth of it, is feated on 

 faft rifing Ground, open to the Gulph of 



E 5 §t. Michae$ 



