OF PANAMA. 



39 



and the goods forwarded for Porto Velo. The Lima fleet then falls to Perico, 

 which is the port of Panama^ at a fmall diftance from that city, and there wait 

 the return of the European goods from Puerto Feloy by the fame carriage their's 

 was fent thither ; and having taken this on board, they immediately fail away 

 for Lima. 



Although the neighbourhood of Panama be pretty well cultivated, yet the 

 reft of the audience is but very thinly inhabited ; neither are there any to- 

 lerable ports after you have paffed the bay of St. Michael, till you come to 

 cape Corrientes ; though there are many rivers which fall into the fea along 

 the coaft. What is fhranger flill, this country is abfolutely in the hands of 

 the natives, with whom the Spaniards fometimes trade for gold, almoft all 

 of them bringing down more or lefs ; but they have no command over them, 

 and are fo much afraid to truft them, that they never attempt to fend 

 much as one exprefs by land from Panama to the audience of Sluito. 



MEXICO, OR NEW SPAIN, 



IN the broadefl part on the frontiers of New Mexico., extends from 

 the gulf of California on the weft, to Louijiana on the eaft, about 

 two hundred leagues, and narrows by degrees till it comes ne ir the bay of 

 Campeche, where it is but 35 leagues over, after which it diminifhes fo much, 

 that near the ifthmus of Panama^ the moft weftern extent, is but tea 

 leagues over. The extent of the northern coaft of New Spain, 

 in the gulf of Mexico, meafures by the fea coaft above one thoufand 

 leagues. 



The air is generally reckoned extraordinary wholefome, and is very tem- 

 perate, being qualified with refreftiing fhowers in the hotteft months, and 

 cool breezes from the fea all the year. It produces many forts of grain, 

 fruits, and herbs ; rich mines of gold and filver; and its fpacious plains afford 

 the beft of pafturage : the principal commodities are wool, cotton, fugar, 

 filk, cochineal, feathers, honey, balm, amber^ fait, tallow, hides, tobacco, 

 ginger, and diver medicinal drugs. . 



This 



