180 DOTTINGS ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap. XI.—B. S 
appeared to watch their movements—visited their ex¬ 
hausted frames. 
The city of Panama was at that period a few miles 
westward of its present site. There are still the ruins 
of that once opulent place, though almost hid hy a 
luxuriant vegetation; the remains of several public 
buildings, the tower of the Cathedral, the walls of the 
churches, bridges, turrets, cisterns, and partly the 
pavement of the streets, all overrun by huge fig-trees, 
pepper-bushes, and numerous creepers. But in vain 
does one seek for the enterprising community from 
which Pizarro drew his most daring followers for the 
conquest of Peru. The spot is deserted. Unhealthy 
exhalations and noxious insects prevent any human 
being from inhabiting it, and pumas, iguanas, alliga¬ 
tors, and snakes now occupy the places where formerly 
the conquest of an empire was planned. 
On the day previous to Morgan’s assault, Panamd 
presented a different aspect. Seven thousand houses, 
composed of the precious woods in which the country 
abounds, formed several stately streets. Two thou¬ 
sand of the buildings, historians tell us, were truly 
magnificent; fine paintings adorned the walls, costly 
hangings the balconies and verandas. Eight con¬ 
vents—seven of which were inhabited by monks, one 
by nuns—arose in different parts. The two churches 
were richly decorated, and ornamented with altar- 
pieces from the hands of the first artists, and gold 
and silver vessels. A hospital afforded shelter to the 
sick; the Genoese also had a stately house for their 
trade in negroes; and numerous stables existed for 
