THE ISTHMUS 



and coming from Peru by the South Sea, for Spain ; to which mufl be added 

 the continual trade carried on by the Peruvian fhips, v/hich bring variety of 

 goods, as meal of different forts, wine, brandy, fugar, tallow, leather, 

 olives, oil, and the like. The (liips from Guayaquil bring cacan, and je- 

 fuit's bark, which always meet with a quick exportation here, efpccially in 

 times of peace. The coafting vefTels which make frequent trips from the ad- 

 jacent ports fupply the city plentifully with provifions, the dearnefs of which 

 in this city and its diftridt, occafioned by the large quantity confumed, and 

 the great diftance from whence they are brought, is amply compcnfated by 

 the multitude and value of the pearls found in the oyfters growing in its 

 gulph. The firfl: to whom the Indians made this valuable difcovery, was Bafco 

 Nunez de Balboa, whtn in his voyage from Panama to make farther difcoveries, 

 in tlie fouth fea, he was prefented with fome by Tumaco, an Indian prince ; 

 at prefcnt they are found in fuch plenty, that there are few perfons of fub- 

 flance near Panama^ who do not employ all, or at leafl part of their (laves 

 in this fifliery. - 



There are neither woods nor marflies near Panama^ but a fine dry cham- 

 pain country, little fubjed: either to fogs or mifts. The rainy feafon lafls here 

 from May to November ^ but the rains are by no means fo heavy as on the 

 other fide of the ifthmns; and yet even here they are very unwholfome to all 

 but the natives, or fuch as have dwelt very long in the place. As this is the 

 great centre of commerce from Peru and Chili, fo the merchants who live at 

 Panama are generally fpeaking rich, and the port is never without a ccnfide- 

 rable number of (hips in it ; nay, there is generally an armadilla, that is, a 

 fquadron of fmall men of war either lying before it, or cruizing in its neigh- 

 bourhood. Moft of the towns and villages in the province of Panama, are 

 fituated in fmall plains along the (liore, the reft of the country being cover- 

 ed with fteep and craggy mountains, uninhabited on account of their fteri- 

 lity. This province contains three cities, twelve villages, and a great num- 

 ber of rancherias, or villages of Indian huts. It has alfo feveral gold mines, 

 but they are greatly neglected, the Spaniards chufmg rather to apply them- 

 felves to the pearl fiihery than the mines, as it aifords a more certain profit, 

 and at the fame time is followed with much greater eafe. 



The 



