372 APPENDIX. 
I here use the word resumption deliberately ; for, from the era of Columbus 
(1502) down to 1824, that line was the high road between Spain and her colonies, 
along the West coast, not only for Spanish settlers and merchants, but for whole 
caro-oes of goods and regiments of soldiers. The famous Vasco Nunes de Balbao, 
so early as 1513, crossed the isthmus, with troops, from his settlement of Santa 
Maria del Darien, to the Gulf of San Miguel, S. E. of Panama ; and the latter, 
eleven years afterward, viz. in 1524, had already become a city of sufRcient im- 
portance to have a governor, and to furnish to Francisco Pizarro, Diego Almagro, 
and Fernando Luque, the men, arms, and ships with which they proceeded to the 
conquest of Peru. Soon afterward, it became the seat of a Royal " Audiencia," 
and, until the suppression of the Spanish galleons, and the opening of the free 
trade, was the grand emporium of all the merchandise from Spain, destined for 
the southern coast of New Granada and Peru, and the northern ports of Guate- 
mala. During the late war of Independence in Peru, several regiments from 
Spain were sent up the Chagres to Panama, and from thence, by transports, to 
Peru ; and it was by the same course, that Cruz Mourgeon — the last Vice-king 
appointed by Spain for New Granada — passed, with his forces, in 1822. The his- 
tory of the Buccaneers proves that, as early as the days of Queen Elizabeth, our 
own piratical countrymen, and other lawless inhabitants of the West Indies, were 
quite familiar with this route, which they passed and repassed at pleasure ; and 
until the trade with the Pacific, by Cape Horn, became open to our own merchants, 
they supplied the wants of the Spanish colonists on the Pacific coasts, through 
Jamaica, by the same channel. It is therefore clear, that in resuming that old 
line of communication, without the aid of either Railroad or Canal, (though doubt- 
less either of these would greatly facilitate the transport of passengers and goods J 
the Pacific Steam Navigation Company makes no new or dangerous experiment. 
A British merchant, then sailing on board the vessel whose course is given in the 
map attached to the present work, so recently as 1824, took on board in Panama 
and carried to San Bias, a thousand bales of goods, bought and packed in Jamaica, 
and which had been conveyed across the isthmus, by the way indicated. The 
expenses on each bale placed in Panama were seven dollars three rials, and con- 
sisted of the following items, viz. : 
Freight on each bale from Jamaica to Chagres, - 
Agency at Chagres, .-.'--- 
Freight per canoe from Chagres to Cruces, . - - 
Duty of Deposite in Cruces, . . . . - 
Agency, 
Mule-hire from Cruces to Panama (7 leagues), - 
In all, ... 7 3 
on each bale of about 150 lbs. weight. The canoes on the Chagres are large 
enough to take eighty of these bales at once ; have " Toldos," (a kind of awning, 
made of cane and palm leaves, impervious to the sun and rain,) are quite safe, and 
managed, with great adroitness, by negro watermen remarkable for their size and 
strength. 
It would require some nicety of calculation, to enable me to institute an exact 
comparison between these charges, and those on the same goods carried round by 
Cape Horn. I am inclined to think, that on goods outward the latter would be 
the cheapest route ; but, on lace, fine linens, silks, and jewelry, the additional ex- 
pense could not be sensibly felt ; and where the object is to be first in a market ; 
in the time of war, to save risk ; and at all times, to save interest of money, the 
lolls. 
Rials. 
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