Ch. 1. SOUTH AMERICA. lo; 



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BOOK III. 



Voyage from Porto Bello to Panama, 



C H A P. I. 



Voyage up the Chagre, and Journey from Cruces 

 to Panama by Land. 



AS it had always been our fixed defign to ftay no 

 longer than abfolutely neceflary in any place, 

 till we had anfwered the great end of our 

 commiffion, our ardour to enter upon it, together with 

 a defire of quitting this dangerous climate, induced 

 us to make the utmoft difpatch. In order to this, we 

 fent advice from Porto Bello, to Don Dionyfio Mar- 

 tinez de la Vega, prefident of Panama, of our ar- 

 rival, the motives of our voyage, and other circum- 

 ftances, together with his majefty's orders relating to 

 the afliftance to be given us by all his officers ; ad- 

 ding our requefts, that he would be pleafed to fend 

 one or two of thofe vefiels ufed on the Chagre, to 

 bring us to Panama, it being impradlicable for us 

 to travel thither by land, as feme of the inftrum.ents 

 were too large for the narrow craggy roads in many 

 parts, and others of a nature not to be carried on 

 mules. This gentleman, who has always fhewn a 

 remarkable zeal for every thing dignified with his 

 majefty's name, was not in the leaft wanting on this 

 pccafion and his polite anfvver, which fully anfwered 

 our moft languine hopes, wa^ followed by two veflels, 



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