112 A VOYAGE TO Book IIL 



fpecies ; fome entirely white ; others of the fame co- 

 lour, except the neck and fome parts of the body, 

 which are red ; others black, only the neck, tips of 

 the wings and the belly white ; and fome, with other 

 mixture of colours j and all differing in fize. The 

 fpecies firft mentioned are the leaft ^ and the white 

 mixed with black the largeft and moft palatable^ 

 The flefh of peacocks, pheafants, and other kinds, is 

 very delicate *. The trees along the banks of this 

 river are furprizingly loaded with fruit; but the 

 pine-apples, for beauty, fize, flavour, and fragrancy, 

 excel thofe of all other countries, and are highly 

 efteemed in all parts of America. 



On our arrival at Cruces, we went on fliore, and 

 were entertained by the alcalde of the town, whofe 

 houfe was that of the cuftoms, where an account is 

 taken of all goods brought up the river. Having, 

 with all poffible difpatch, got every thing ready for 

 our journey to Panama, on the 29th at half an hour 

 after eleven in the morning, we fet out, and reached 

 that city by three quarters after fix in the evening. 

 We made it our firft bufinefs to wait on the prefident, 

 a mark of refpedt due, not only to his dignity, but alfo 

 to the many civilities he had fhewn us. This worthy 

 gentleman received us all, and particularly the fo- 

 reigners, in the moft cordial and endearing manner. 

 He alfo recommended to all the king's officers^ and 

 other perfons of diftindion in the city, not to be v/ant- 

 ing in any good office, or mark of efteem : a beha- 

 viour which fhewed at once the weight of the royal 

 orders, and his zeal to execute his fovereign's plea- 

 fure. 



Some indifpenfable preparations, v/hich were to be 

 made for the profecution of our journey, detained us 

 longer at Panama than we expeded. We, however^ 



* The fifhy tafte, which moll of the fowls in this country have, 

 is an exception to their delicacy as food, A. 



employed 



