ii6 A VOYAGE TO Book IIL 



one being eager ta fave himfelf, the works were foon 

 abandoned, in order to efcape the double danger of 

 being either burnt or blown up. The commandant^ 

 however, determined to do all in his power, fliil de- 

 fended the fort, with fixteen or twenty foldiers, being 

 all that were left him, till, covered with wounds, he 

 fell a vi(51:im to his loyalty. The pirates, encouraged 

 by this accident, pullied their attack with the utmoft 

 vigour ; and the few people were obliged to furrender 

 the place, which the violence of the flames foon laid' 

 in afhes. Having furmounted this difficulty, the 

 greatefl part of them purfued their voyage up the 

 river in boats and lanches, leaving the fhips at an 

 anchor, for the defence of their new conqueft. The 

 detachment having landed at Cruces, marched towards 

 Panama, and, on the Sabana, a fpacious plain before 

 the city, they had feveral flcirmifhes, in which Morgan 

 always gained the advantage ; fo that he made him- 

 felf matter of the city, but found it almoft forfaken ; 

 the inhabitants, on feeing their men defeated, having 

 retired into the woods. He now plundered it at his 

 kifure ; and, after {laying fome days, agreed, for a 

 large ranfom, to evacuate it without damaging the 

 buildings ; but, after the payment of the money, the 

 city was fet on fire, by accident, as they gave out^ 

 and as the hiftory of his adventures relates ; but it 

 is much more probable that it was done by defign. 

 To pretend it was owing to accident, feemed to thera 

 the beft palliative for their violating the treaty. 



This misfortune rendering it ablolutely neceflary to 

 rebuild the city, it was removed to its prefent fituation, 

 which is about a league and half from the former, and 

 much more convenient. It has a wall of free-ftone, 

 and defended by a large garrifon of regulars; from 

 whence detachm.ents are fent to do duty at Darien, 

 Porto Beilo, and Chagre. Near the city, on tlie 

 ncrth-weil-, is a mountain called Ahcon, whofe per- 



pendi- 



