241 



it is only by the communications which I have 

 since held with the inhabitants of regions the 

 least visited, that I have been able to obtain 

 some new information. I shall here state the 

 considerations that are most important for the 

 political advantage and the trade of the na- 

 tions. 



The five points that present the practicability 

 of a communication from sea to sea, are situated 

 between the 5th and 18th degrees of north lati- 

 tude. They all, consequently, belong to the 

 states washed by the Atlantic, to the territory 

 of the Mexican and Columbian confederations, 

 or, to use the ancient geographical denomina- 

 tions, to the intendancies of Oaxaca, and Vera 

 Cruz, and the provinces of Nicaragua, Panama, 

 and Choco. They are : — 



The Isthmus of Tehuantepec (lat. 16°-18°), 

 between the sources of the Rio Chimalapa 

 and the Rio del Passo, which empties itself 

 into the Rio Huasacualco or Goazacoalcos. 

 The Isthmus of Nicaragua (lat. 10°-12°), 

 between the port of San Juan de Nicara- 

 gua, and the coast of the gulf of Papagayo, 

 near the volcanos of Granada and Bom- 

 bacho. 



The Isthmus of Panama (lat. 8° 15'-9° 36'.) 

 The Isthmus of Darien, or Cupica (lat. 

 6° 40'-7° 12',) 



VOL. VI. R 



