OF PANAMA. 



27 



{linking mud upon the beacb, from whence there exhales an intolerable 

 noifome vapour, which is fuppofed to be the chief caufe of the unwhol- 

 fomnefs of the place. Be that as it will, certain it is, that at every annual 

 fair, near 400 people are carried off by the maladies which reign here ; 

 particularly a kind of peftilential fever, which, caufing a mortification in 

 the entrails, carries off the patient in a few alays. It is no wonder there- 

 fore, that, except at this trading feafon, Puerto Velo is very thinly inhabited. 

 To fay the truth, there are none refide here but what are obliged to it on 

 account of their employments, either in the army, or in commerce : fo that 

 there are not reckoned in it above 2 or 300 people, befides the gar- 

 rifon. 



Notwithflanding all the pains taken to fortify it, there are few places which 

 have fallen oftner into the hands of an enemy than Porfo Velo. In 1595, 

 before it was half finiflied, it was taken and ranfomed by the famous Sir 

 Francis Drake, who died, and was thrown overboard in the harbour. In 

 1 60 1, it was taken again by Capt. Parker^ though it had then as many forts 

 as it had lately. In 1669 it was taken, after a very obflinate defence, by 

 Capt. Morgan and his buccaneers. In 1678, Capt. Croxon, at the head of 

 another body of free- hooters, furprized and plundered the town, though they 

 did not make themfelves maflers of the forts j and finally, in 1739, it was 

 taken, and all its fortifications demolifhed by Admiral Vernon with fix (hips 

 onljy whereby the Spaniards received incredible damage. The anchoring- 

 place for large fhips is to the north-wefl of Gloria caftle, near the center of 

 the harbour; but fmall veiTels come farther up, taking care to £void a bank 

 of fand flretching off 300 yards from St. 'Jerom'^'^omX., there being only 

 a fathom and a half or two fathoms water on it. North-wefl of the town is 

 a little bay called ha Caldera, or the Kettle^ having four fathoms and a half 

 water, a very proper place for careening of fhips, being perfedlly de- 

 fended from all winds. Among the mountains which furround the harbour 

 of Porto Velo, is one particularly remarkable for its fuperior height, and for 

 being confidered as the barometer of the country, by foretelling every change 

 of weather. This mountain, diflinguifhed by the name of Capiro, flands at 

 the bottom of the harbour in the road to Panama Its top" is always covered 



E 2 with 



