24 



THE ISTHMUS 



NOMBRE DE D I O S, 



WA S deflroyed in its infancy by the Indians of Darien. Some years 

 after it was rebuilt, and the inhabitants maintained their ground till 

 the year 1584, when orders arrived from PMlip II. for their removing to 

 Puerto Veloy as much better lituated for the commerce of that country. 



The place where Nombre de Dios flood, is in the bottom of a bay clofe by 

 the fea. There is no fign of a town remaining, it is fo over-run with wild 

 canes. The fituation feems to have been but very indifferent, the bay be- 

 fore it lying open to the fea, and affording little fhelter for (hipping, which 

 was one reafon why the Spaniards forfook it, and another, probably, was 

 the unhealthinefs of the country itfelf, it being low, fwampy land, and very 

 lickly ; yet there is a rivulet of very fweet water which runs clofe by the north 

 fide of the town. The mouth of the harbour is very wide, and though 

 there be before it two or three little keys or i ocks, yet they afford no great 

 fecurity to it. 



PORTO BELO, NAMED BY THE SPANIARDS 



PUERTO VELO, 



WA S difcovered by Chrijlopher Columbus in 1 507. It ftands about the 

 middle of the narroweft part of the ifthmus, and not above 50 miles 

 from Panama, which is on the other fide. Its fituation is very agreeable, being 

 about a quarter of a mile diftant from the harbour, in a fine plain, watered 

 by three rivulets : there are in it two good churches, a handfome houfe for 

 the governor, an exchange for the merchants, a cuftom-houfe, and a great 

 number of warehoufes. The great church is built of ftone, large, decently 

 ornamented, and ferved by a vicar and fome other priefls, who are natives of 

 the country i there are alfa two other churches, one belonging to the Fathers. 



