PANAMA AND THE PACIFIC. 285 



DAYS. 



From Lima by Cape Horn . .110 

 5, Panama ♦ . . 51 



Difference of time in favour of 

 the route by the West Indies 59 



The passage from Panama to Chagres is 

 perfectly easy^ being only twenty-one miles by 

 land, and the remainder by a river, safe and 

 navigable for boats and canoes. This was 

 the route by which the several towns and 

 provinces on the Pacific Ocean made their 

 communications with Europe, before the sepa- 

 ration of the Colonies from Spain; but the 

 frequent revolutions which have taken place in 

 South America, and the consequent poverty 

 and want of enterprise in the Spanish part of the 

 population, seem to have put a stop to the 

 regular and periodical communications between 

 these places, which were formerly established 

 by public authority. 



This communication might be very easily 

 effected by the addition of a few small fast- 

 sailing vessels of war, or steamers, which should 

 make periodical visits to the towns I have 

 mentioned. 



The advantage of a direct communication 

 between Panama and the West Indies, has 

 already been felt and obtained by the practice 



