179 
Chap. XI.—B. S.] FIRST SIGHT OF PANAMA. 
greater eagerness. After the canoes and boats had 
been sent some distance down the river to prevent 
their being taken by the Spaniards, the buccaneers 
entered the forest which stretched from Cruces to the 
plains of Panama. The Isthmenians had taken ad¬ 
vantage of its thickness, by placing in different parts 
Indians who, armed with bows, arrows, and javelins, 
attacked the invaders on various occasions, though 
without any serious result. 
In spite of every impediment the march was con¬ 
tinued, and on the ninth day after departing from 
Chagres, the first sight of the South Sea was ob¬ 
tained. After being so long among the darkness and 
monotony of primeval forests, the grandeur of the 
scene thus suddenly opening made even on the minds 
of the buccaneers a favourable impression. Before 
them rolled the Pacific Ocean, enlivened by ships, and 
the delightful group of islands justly termed the gar¬ 
den of Panama; and around them stretched plains 
with groves of gay-flowering trees and shrubs, nu¬ 
merous herds of cattle roving among thorn. The land¬ 
scape was so enchanting that all broke out in loud ac¬ 
clamations; and when towards evening the steeples 
of Panama were descried, the joy reached the highest 
pitch. Drums were beaten, guns discharged, trum¬ 
pets sounded, and, as if victory had already been ob¬ 
tained, a general content prevailed. After the camp 
had been pitched, bullocks were roasted, all fatigue 
seemed to be forgotten, and for the first time since 
the commencement of the invasion, sound sleep—un¬ 
disturbed by the bodies of soldiers who occasionally 
n 2 
