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HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BY 
 
 V -SL 
 
 PRINTED & PUBLISHED AT THE OFFICE OF THE STAR & HERALD, 
 
 PANAMA, 1867. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 In the little work which we now place before our readers we 
 make no pretentions to publishing a full history of the Isthmus of 
 Panama, but merely to give an outline of the most exciting 
 events which occurred in the early part of its settlement, 
 embracing the invasion and capture of Portobello and Old Panama 
 by the Buccaneers. In fact the work is merely a series of notes 
 from the able pen of the well known traveller and author, DR. 
 '' BERTHOLD SEEMANN, thrown loosely together some twenty years 
 ago, with a view to publish them in a complete form at some fu 
 ture day. More important matters, however, have since then 
 occupied the author's attention, and he has, at our special request, 
 handed the notes over to us in their crude state to make such use 
 as we pleased of them. Any alterations we might make in them 
 would only detract from their merit, so we give them to the pub 
 lic as they were given to us. A further series of these notes from 
 the period where these end to a very recent date have been pro 
 mised us by DR. SEEMANN, on his return home from his present 
 excursion to Central America, which we intend issuing as a con 
 tinuation of and in a style similar to the present publication, as 
 soon as they reach us. 
 
 THE PUBLISHERS. 
 PANAMA, DECEMBER, 1866. 
 
H I S T R Y 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ISTHMUS OF PANAMA 
 
 The treasure constantly conveyed across the Isthmus by the 
 Spaniards did not escape the vigilant eyes of the pirates, who to 
 ward the middle of the 16th century, were already getting numer 
 ous in the Caribbean Sea. The Galleons were too well armed to 
 suffer an attack to be made on them with impunity. Other 
 schemes had therefore to be resorted to. In 1572 the PlancM 
 and Swan were fitted out in England, and the command given to 
 Francis Drake and his brothers. The object of this expedition 
 V\:H to intercept a treasure of great value which was said to be 
 carried from Panama to Nombre de Dios. Drake being joined on 
 the coast of South America by another bark, landed at Nombre de 
 Dios, dismounted the guns of the platform, and while the alarm- 
 bells were ringing and drums beating, marched to the market 
 place. Here a desperate fight ensued, in which Drake received a 
 wound, but knowing that if the general's heart stoops the men's 
 will fail, he concealed it. One of his trusty followers, Oxenham, 
 and his brother, with sixteen men, proceeded to the King's trea 
 sure house, and here piles of silver were found, and still more in 
 the Governor's residence. Drake then told his men that " he had 
 brought them to the treasury of the world, and if they did not 
 
4 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 sain it, none but themselves were to blame." Here, however, 
 
 O " 77 
 
 from loss of blood his strength failed him. His men bound up 
 the wound and carried him by main force to his pinnace. 
 
 On recovering, Drake decided on crossing the Isthmus ; but 
 having lost many men by sickness, among them his brothers 
 Joseph and John, he removed the remaining force to his own ship 
 and pinnace. The Swan was sunk. His object was to intercept on 
 the Isthmus, a train of mules, laden with the King's treasure. 
 On meeting it he attacked and chased the party in charge, as far 
 as Cruces, giving strict orders to his company not to hurt women 
 or unarmed men. In their wanderings they came to a high tree, 
 and climbing it viewed with transports of joy the great Pacific, 
 an Ocean as yet entirely closed to English enterprise. 
 
 Among those who accompanied Drake was one John Oxman, 
 or Oxenham, who appears to have been a favorite with the 
 captain, and who shortly afterwards returned to try his fortune in 
 a hazardous scheme of prhateering. In 1575, he arrived on the 
 Atlantic side of the Isthmus, in a vessel of 140 tons, and with 
 only 70 men. Hearing that, since the attempt of Drake, the trea 
 sure of the Spaniards was strongly guarded, he devised a scheme 
 of action equally bold and original. Drawing the ship on shore, 
 he covered her with boughs of trees, buried the guns, except two 
 small pieces, and leaving one man as a watch, he marched with 
 the rest into the interior. He soon arrived at a river flowing 
 towards the south. Here he built a pinnace 45 feet in length, 
 and in her went down stream into the South Sea. Directing his 
 course to the Pearl Islands, he captured a bark containing 60,000 
 pesos of gold, and another from Lima with 100,000 pesos of silver. 
 Not satisfied yet he proceeded to the Islands where pearls are 
 mostly found. Having collected a small quantity, he set off with 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 5 
 
 his pinnace and his prizes to the mouth of the river which he had 
 descended, and having dismissed the two captured vessels, began 
 to ascend it. The delay of fifteen days on the Pearl Islands was 
 fatal to him. The very night that he left those islands the negroes 
 sat off for Panama to give information of what had happened. 
 Pour barks, each with 25 armed men, besides negroes to row them, 
 under the command of Juan de Ortega, were immediately sent 
 in search of Oxenham. They fell in with the prizes which Ox- 
 enham had dismissed, and learnt from them the course which the 
 pirates had taken. After rowing several days against the stream, 
 they arrived at the place where the treasure had been provision 
 ally buried. This they hastened to carry oft', well satisfied with 
 their success. The English, returning to the spot and finding the 
 treasure gone, followed with impetuosity, and regardless of the 
 iiR-quality of number/;. The consequence was that they fell into 
 an ambush and were totally defeated. A party of Spaniards soon 
 lifter discovered Oxeuham's ship, with the stores and ordnance, 
 which he had taken such pains to conceal. The English who sur 
 vived this train of misfortunes lived for some time among the 
 Darien Indians, employed in building canoes, in which they hoped 
 to effect their escape. But at length they were taken by the 
 Spaniards and carried to Panama, where Oxenham and his com 
 panions, with the exception of five boys, were put to death. 
 Thus ended the first Englishmen who navigated the Pacific. (1.) 
 Drake after his famous voyage round the world, was employed 
 by Queen Elizabeth against Philip II. In 1595, the Queen 
 fitted out an expedition destined to strike a blow at the power of 
 Spain, by attacking the West Indies. The armament, consisting 
 of six ships, was unfortunate. Sir John Hawkins, one of the 
 
 (1.) Lardner, History of Maritime and Inland discovery. VOT-. II. p. 248. 
 
6 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 commanders, died ; Drake's smallest ship was taken by the 
 Spaniards, who, by putting- her crew to the torture, extracted 
 information respecting the plans of the expedition, and when Drake 
 attacked Porto Rico he found the place fully warned. Sailing 
 away he took and burnt Riohacha, Ranchera, Santa Marta and 
 Nombre de Dios, getting no greater spoil than twenty tons of 
 silver and two bars of gold. Whilst Drake remained in the 
 harbor of Nombre de Dios, Sir Thomas Baskerville, with a part 
 of the land forces, made an attempt to cross the Isthmus and 
 destroy the City of Panama. But a fatal disease broke out 
 among the soldiers and sailors, and deprived them of the services 
 of their chief surgeon. When many of his men and three of his 
 captains had died, the hardy Drake himself fell sick, and after 
 struggling some twenty days with his malady and the grief occa 
 sioned by his failures, he expired on the 28th of December, 1595. 
 On the same -day the fleet anchored off Portobello, and in sight 
 of the place which he had formerly taken and plundered, his body 
 received a sailor's funeral. (2.) 
 
 The bold attempts of Oxenham and Drake filled the Isth- 
 menians with apprehension, and prompted them to adopt a more 
 regular system of defence than their fancied security hitherto 
 seemed to demand. Little did they anticipate that these events 
 were only the prelude to a fearful tragedy of which their country 
 was to become the theatre. The principal actors in this tragedy, 
 whose names for nearly a century were the terror of the coast 
 and the scourge of the sea, were the Buccaneers, an association 
 equally singular and formidable, and called into existence by the 
 despotic administration of the Spanish colonies. The Spaniards 
 themselves felt oppressed by the restrictions placed on trade, 
 
 (2.) Barrow, p. 141-143. 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 7 
 
 and gave stealthy encouragement to foreign interlopers, who sup 
 plied them at an easier rate with articles which could not be le 
 gally procured without paying enormous exactions. English 
 traders soon made their appearance; and, as the authorities on the 
 one hand treated them as enemies, or even as pirates, while on the 
 other they were invited by the profits of a contraband trade, they 
 soon learned to adopt the precaution of going well armed. (3.) 
 
 The cruelties of the Spaniards to the aborigines of Cuba ter 
 minated in the depopulation of that fine Island. The cattle at 
 the same time multiplied in great numbers, and roved over the 
 deserted tracts of the western districts. This, inconsequence, be 
 came the victualling place of all foreign vessels that cruised upon 
 the Spanish Main or disturbed its trade. The preparation of the 
 meat became a regular business. Spanish hunters killed the cat 
 tle ; the flesh was then dried and prepared according to the Carib 
 method, on hurdles raised a few feet above the fire. This mode 
 of dressing food was called by the Indians " boocan," a name also 
 applied to the apparatus used in the process, and to the meat it 
 self. Hence the persons who were emplo}'ed in procuring provi 
 sions for the cruisers, adopting the language with the habits of 
 the natives, called themselves Buccaneers. 
 
 A large majority of these adventurers were English ; and as 
 their smuggling trade quickly degenerated into actual piracy, they 
 took the honourable designation of freebooters. There was a na 
 tural alliance between the freebooters and Buccaneers ; they mutu 
 ally depended on one another, the avocations of one party being 
 at sea, those of the other on land. It is probable that in some 
 instances the pirate cured his own provisions, and so united both 
 professions in his own person. But in general the hunters were 
 
 (3) Lardner. History of Maritime and Inland Discovery, chap. 19. 
 
8 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 distinct from the seamen, and in process of time, a majority of the 
 hunters were French, while the rovers were chiefly English. Yet 
 the adventurers of these two nations whimsically thought fit to 
 borrow the name of their profession from the language of the 
 other, as if the respectability of their calling could be enhanced, 
 or its criminality palliated by a foreign name. The English called 
 themselves Buccaneers, while the French preferred the title of 
 Freebooters, or corruptedty, Filibusters. 
 
 All the adventurers, of whatever nation, made the Spaniards 
 the sole object of attack. A sense of common interest bound them 
 together and formed them into a society styling itself: The 
 brethren of the Coast. The Buccaneers had peculiar customs, which 
 either from necessity or tradition obtained the authority of law. 
 Their code of morality was such as might be expected among men 
 who, while they renounced a friendly intercourse with the rest of 
 mankind, depended upon each other's fidelity. Every Buccaneer 
 had a mate, who was the heir to all his money. In some in 
 stances a community of property existed. Negligence of dress, 
 and even dirtiness, was prescribed by their fashions, as best befit 
 ting a desperado. But when, in case of war between their na 
 tions and the Spaniards, they could obtain commissions, they were 
 always ready to take the name of privateers. (4) 
 
 The increase of the Buccaneers was regarded with satisfaction 
 by other European States. They reasoned with the laxity of 
 political morality then prevailing, that they might profit by illegal 
 proceedings, which at the same time they were not called upon to 
 avow. Various settlements were made by adventurers through 
 out the West India Islands, those of the same nation generally 
 associating together ; and as they grew into importance, they were 
 
 (4) Ijardner, ibid. 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 9 
 
 claimed by that crown of which a majority of the colonists were 
 subjects. The pirates were pleased to find themselves counte 
 nanced or connived &t by legal governments, and colonies offered 
 a prospect of an increased market for their trade. Becoming more 
 confident in their strength, they seized on the little island of Tor- 
 tuga. This was the first step of the Buccaneers towards forming 
 themselves into an independent society. The severity of the 
 Spaniards soon after forced them to take one of still greater im 
 portance. A party of Spanish troops surprised Tortuga, while 
 most of the Buccaneers were hunting on the main land, or 
 cruising in their vessels, and those surprised were hanged as 
 pirates without mercy or distinction. But national animosity 
 and the love of gain have more influence than terror, and the 
 ranks of the Buccaneers, after their loss of Tortuga, were speedily 
 recruited. From this blow they learnt the necessity of observing 
 more regularity in their proceedings ; and for the first time, they 
 elected a commander. As they acknowledged no claims to rank 
 but conduct and courage, all their leaders were remarkable for 
 personal prowess and daring exploits, but they never felt the com 
 punctions of humanity, and cruelties stained the glory of their suc 
 cesses (1.) 
 
 Among the most notorious and fortunate of the x se leaders 
 ranks Henry Morgan, under whose government the affairs of the 
 Buccaneei's obtained their most flourishing condition. Morgan 
 was born in Wales of respectable parents. His father w r as a farmer, 
 but young Morgan showed little inclination to follow his peaceful 
 calling. At an early age he left home to seek employment more 
 suited to his active mind, and arriving at one of the seaports, 
 joined a vessel bound for Barbadoes. No sooner, however, had 
 
 (1) Lardner ibid. 
 
10 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 the destination been reached than according to the practice of 
 those times, Morgan was sold as a slave, and had to serve a series 
 of years in that capacity. Having at last regained his freedom, 
 he proceeded to Jamaica to try his fortune once more. There 
 he found two piratical vessels ready for sea, and being without 
 employment, he did not hesitate to join them. A new career was 
 now opened to him. He soon acquired their manners and customs, 
 and having, during several successful voyages, saved a little money, 
 he agreed with some of his associates to join stock and buy a 
 ship. This was quickly executed and Morgan chosen commander. 
 He directed his course towards the coast of Campeachy, and re 
 turned to Jamaica with several captured vessels. Mansvelt, an 
 old pirate, seeing Morgan in possession of such valuable prizes, 
 formed a high idea of his piratical talents, and offered him the 
 command of Vice- Admiral of a fleet, consisting of fifteen sail and 
 five hundred men, which he was fitting out, and which was des 
 tined to invade the American continent. Morgan accepted the 
 offer and made himself prominent in the new situation. He took 
 several places, and after the death of Mansvelt, the office of Com 
 mander-in-chief, was unanimously conferred upon him. 
 
 His exploits after this installation were of the boldest charac 
 ter. With a body of seven hundred men, he took the town of 
 Puerto del Principe in Cuba. His next undertaking was directed 
 against Portobello. He had only four hundred and sixty men ; 
 but his advance was so rapid, that he came on the town by sur 
 prise, and found it quite unprepared. In storming the castle, he 
 compelled his prisoners, chiefly leligious of both sexes, to apply 
 the scaling-ladders to the walls. When the garrison surren 
 dered, he shut them up in the castle, and setting fire to the maga 
 zine, destroyed the fort and its defenders together. He afterwards 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 11 
 
 sacked Maracaibo, and the neighboring town of Gibraltar; and, 
 emboldened by success, he consulted with his officers which of the 
 three places, Carthagena, Veracruz or Panama, he should next 
 attack. Panama was believed to be the richest, and on that city 
 the lot fell. 
 
 The opinion of the Buccaneers was, that it would be most 
 expeditious to invade the Isthmus by ascending the river Chagres, 
 us far as Cruces, and thence proceed by land to Panama. Yet 
 even this plan, the most feasible that could be devised, was at 
 tended with difficulties. The mouth of the river was guarded by 
 the Castle of Sari Lorenzo, which stood on a high rock the top 
 of which had been divided by a ditch into two parts. Palisades 
 tilled with earth, encircled the building ; a drawbridge formed 
 its only entrance. Towards the land it had four bastions, to 
 wards the sea, two ; the southern side was rendered inaccessible 
 by the steepness of the rock, the northern, by the bed of the 
 river; while the foot, protected by a battery, commanded the 
 mouth of the Chagres, which possessed besides the defence of a 
 hidden rock. The garrison, consisting of three hundred and four 
 teen men, was well armed and prepared for an attack by previous 
 notice. 
 
 Morgan would have proceeded in person to commence opera 
 tions, but he was engaged in the Island of Santa Catalina. To 
 lose no time he sent four ships, a boat and four hundred men, 
 under the command of Captain Brodely, to clear the way for the 
 main forces. No sooner did this flotilla arrive in sight of the 
 Castle than the Spaniards opened fire so well directed and kept 
 up with so much spirit, that the pirates were obliged to take re 
 fuge in a small bay, about a league distant. Men less accustomed 
 to hazardous undertakings would, probably, have deferred as- 
 
12 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 saulting a place so well defended; but the Buccaneers, however 
 discouraged, were ready to make a formal attack. Landing early 
 on the next morning, they forced a passage through the forest 5 
 and reached the Castle about two o'clock in the afternoon. Not 
 withstanding that they had been covered by trees, their move 
 ments had been watched, and they had hardly approached within 
 a cannon shot, when a fire was opened upon them, killing several 
 of their number before the assault could be made. However they 
 continued to advance, holding the sword in one hand, the fireball 
 in the other. But the garrison defended itself so well, that the 
 design to climb the walls and set fire to the palisades failed, and 
 retreat became inevitable. 
 
 This repulse did not shake their resolution. At nightfall 
 another assault was made. As before their aim was to fire the 
 palisades; but they would probably have met with no more suc 
 cess than on the former occasion, had not an accident come to 
 their assistance. In the height of the tumult a part of the build 
 ing became ignited. All eyes being turned towards the assailants, 
 it remained unnoticed until reaching a barrel of gunpowder. The 
 explosion that followed produced the utmost consternation within 
 the walls, and, water being wanting, the flames spread with rap 
 idity, illuminating the scene of destruction, and shewing to the 
 trembling garrison the savage faces of the pirates. The latter tad 
 taken advantage of the confusion by setting fire to the palisades ; 
 they now tried to climb the walls, but the Spaniards, anticipa 
 ting this movement, threw down pots filled with combustible mat 
 ter and, fighting with bravery, succeeded for a while in checking 
 the progress of the invaders. Yet, in spite of all their efforts they 
 continued to lose ground, and their numbers were rapidly dwind 
 ling away. At day-break the fortress was a mere ruin ; the flames 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 13 
 
 had made several breaches, earth had fallen into the ditch, and 
 thus removed one of the greatest obstacles to the entry into the 
 fort. Meanwhile the fighting was kept up. and about noon the 
 English gained a breach which was defended by twenty-five men, 
 headed by the Governor in person. A desperate struggle ensued. 
 The Governor collecting all his men and disdaining any quarter, 
 fought till a musket shot laid him low. Resistance was now at 
 an end, the remainder of the garrison either escaped or precipi 
 tated themselves into the sea ; and out of a body of three hundred 
 and fourteen men, only thirty were made prisoners. 
 
 This victory had been dearly purchased. The pirates had 
 one hundred killed and seventy wounded. From the prisoners 
 it was learnt that the Governor of Panama had received notice 
 of their intended invasion about three weeks previously, and that 
 in consequence of this information^ he had sent one hundred and 
 sixty-four men to strengthen San Lorenzo, placed ambuscades on 
 the banks of the Chagres, and collected two thousand six hun 
 dred men on the plains of Panama to repulsf, if necessary, any 
 attack on the capital. A vessel was immediately dispatched to 
 acquaint the Admiral of the Buccaneers with the success and the 
 information extracted. Shortly after the whole piratical fleet 
 hove in sight, and great was the rejoicing on board when the 
 English colours were seen waving from San Lorenzo, a castle hi 
 therto deemed impregnable. The eagerness of the ships, how 
 ever, to get into the river proved disastrous. Unacquainted with 
 the sunken rocks at its entrance, four, among them that of Mor 
 gan, grounded, and the crews with difficulty saved their lives. 
 
 The arrival of the fleet gave a fresh impulse to the execution 
 of the invaders' plans. B}~ compelling the Spanish prisoners to 
 work, and by their own exertions, the castle was restored as well 
 
14 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 as possible; five hundred men were left for its defence, and the 
 coasting vessels which still remained in the river, and usually car 
 ried two or three guns, were seized ; in fine, every precaution was 
 taken to secure a safe retreat. On the 18th of January, 1671, all 
 necessary arrangements were completed, and on that day Morgan 
 embarked with one thousand t*vo hundred men, in five boats and 
 thirty two canoes. 
 
 In ascending the river Chagres many impediments presented 
 themselves, a rapid current, a want of practice in managing the 
 Hat bottomed and overloaded canoes, and the utmost scarcity of 
 provisions. The ambuscades placed on the banks, which Morgan 
 intended to surprise and plunder of their provisions, having been 
 seized by the general terror which the fall of San Lorenzo had 
 produced, had abandoned their position before the Buccaneers 
 reached tham, and left nothing save their traces behind. Ex 
 hausted with fatigue, and tormented by hunger, six days had al 
 ready been spent without reaching Graces, a village which under 
 ordinary circumstances may be gained in thirty-six hours. Many 
 began to murmur and to cui'se the day when engaging in an un 
 dertaking which they now deemed beyond their power to accom 
 plish. Morgan, however, backed by a large majority, succeeded in 
 quelling the discontent, and tried to exhilarate their spirits by 
 brilliant promises of future gain and immediate prospects of plenty 
 on arriving at Cruces, 
 
 At last Cruces was reached, but how great was the disap 
 pointment on finding most of the houses in flames, the inhabi 
 tants fled and, except sixteen jars of Peruvian wine, a bag full of 
 bread, and several cats and dogs, provisions of every kind re 
 moved. The march to Panama was, therefore, pushed on with 
 greater eagerness. After the canoes and boats had been sent 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 15 
 
 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 Isthrnenians had taken 
 advantage of its thickness, by placing in different parts Indians 
 who, armed with bows, arrows and javelins, attacked the invaders 
 on various occasions. 
 
 In spite of every impediment the march was continued, and 
 on the ninth day after departing from (Jhagres, the first sight of 
 the South sea was obtained. 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 Buc 
 caneers a favorable impression. Before them rolled the Pacific 
 Ocean, enlivened by ships, and the delightful group of islands 
 justty termed the garden of Panama ; and around them stretched 
 plains with groves of gay-flowering trees and shrubs, numerous 
 herds of cattle roving among them. The landscape was so en 
 chanting that all broke out in loud acclamations ; and when towards 
 evening the steeples of Panama were descried, the joy reached 
 the highest pitch. Drums were beaten, guns discharged, trumpets 
 sounded and, as if victory had already been obtained, 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 appeared to 
 watch their movements visited their exhausted frames. 
 
 The city of Panama was at that period about four miles east 
 ward of the present site. The traveller still finds the ruins of 
 that once opulent place, though almost hid by a luxuriant vegeta 
 tion; he still meets the remains of several public buildings, the 
 tower of the Cathedral, the walls of 'the churches, bridges, turrets, 
 
16 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 cisterns, and partly the pavement of the streets, all overrun by 
 huge fig-trees, pepper-bushes and numerous creepers whose 
 flowers perfume the air with fragrance. But in vain does he seek 
 for the enterprising community from which Pizarrodrew 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, Alligators and 
 Snakes now occupy the places where formerly the conquest of an 
 Empire was planned. 
 
 On the day previous to Morgan's assault Panama presented a- 
 different aspect. Seven thousand houses, composed of the precious 
 woods in which the country abounds, formed several stately 
 streets. Two thousand of the buildings, historians tell us, were 
 truly magnificent; fine paintings adorned the walls, costly hang 
 ings the balconies and verandas. Eight monastanes seven of 
 which were inhabite'd by monks, one by nuns arose in different 
 parts. The two churches were richly ornamented ; altar pieces 
 from the hands of the first artists and gold and silver vessels 
 decorated their interior. A hospital afforded shelter to the sick : 
 the Genoese also, had a stately house for their trade of negroes; 
 and numerous stables existed for the beasts that carried the King's 
 silver to Cruces and Portobello, or served for other commercial 
 purposes. Nor had the defence of the city been forgotten. Towards 
 the land the place was protected by strong fortifications, and 
 towards the sea its situation was such that, on account of the 
 shoal-water which left at ebb tide nearly for two miles nothing 
 save bare rocks, no vessel could approach it. The vicinity was 
 converted into plantations and gardens, in which the fair 
 Panamenians enjoyed the freshness of the morning, or partook 
 of the cooling breezes of the tropical evening. The inhabitants 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 17 
 
 were mostly merchants who employed a vast number of slaves. 
 Man}- skilful mechanics and artizans, encouraged by a ready 
 market at the time of the Porto Bello fair, and a number of 
 opulent citizens, had taken up their residence here. Panama, 
 being besides the See of a Bishop and the site of the Provincial 
 Government, contained many ecclesiastical and civil officers, with 
 their usual train of attendants. It was this city which a few 
 boats' crews dared to attack ! which was to fall before a handful 
 of pirates ! 
 
 A faint purple had hardly announced the dawn of the 27th of 
 January, 1671 the last day which the devoted place, after a 
 short but brilliant existance of 152 years, was to witness when 
 the drums and trumpets called the Buccaneers to the attack, and 
 made them conscious that the time had arrived when they must 
 either defeat their enemies, or fall themselves victims to their own 
 daring plans. Adopting the advice of the guides they avoided 
 the direct road leading to the city on which ample preparations 
 had been made for their repulse, and took another which traversed 
 a wood, and though being very irksome and difficult to pass, had 
 the advantage of conducting them out of the reach of the ambus 
 cades and batteries. 
 
 When daylight was fully established they found themselves 
 on a little hill, still known by the name of "Cerro de Advance, 5 ' 
 from the top of which they perceived the full extent of the forces 
 they had to contend with. The Spaniards were arranged in battle 
 array, and their forces consisted of two squadrons of horse and 
 four regiments of foot; they had besides a number of wild bullocks, 
 driven by Indians and negroes, by which odd addition they hoped 
 to destroy an enemy whom they fancied ignorant of bull-fighting. 
 The Buccaneers, surprised at beholding a force so much superior 
 
18 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 to their own, would instantly have relinquished all thoughts of 
 attack had an alternative been left them. But there was no 
 choice. Dividing themselves into three batallions, two hundred 
 men, the most skillful at their guns were sent as an advance 
 guard, whilst the main body descended the hill, marching straight 
 towards the enemy. These movements were the mutual signal 
 for action. The Spaniards, shouting "Viva el Rey," immediately 
 pushed forward their cavalry, accompanied by some of the foot 
 regiments; but, before they had time to inflict any injury the 
 advanced guard discharged upon them a volley of musketry. The 
 fighting now became general, and both sides displayed the utmost 
 courage; the Spaniards, however, soon perceived that they had no 
 longer naked Indians to contend with, that, on the contrary, their 
 opponents belonged to a race superior to themselves. 
 
 After two hours hard fighting the Panamenians began to 
 waver; their cavalry could not act advantageously on the boggy 
 ground, and most of the horsemen were killed. Finding them 
 selves baffled in this manner they had recourse to the bullocks, 
 driving them from behind to create confusion, but the wild cattle 
 frightened by the unwonted noise, mostly ran away, and the few 
 that broke through the lines of the Buccaneers were easily slain. 
 The horsemen were the first who fled from the field; they were 
 soon followed, however, by the infantiy, who, seeing their com 
 panions deserting them, discharged their muskets, threw down 
 their arms and seconded them in their cowardice. Those that 
 were not so fortunate as to effect their escape hid themselves 
 among the mangroves, where, when discovered, th^y were killed 
 without mercy. Six thousand Spaniards were dyeing the savannas 
 with their blood, and a considerable number of the pirates shared 
 the same fate. 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 19 
 
 The great prize lay now within grasp, it was necessary to 
 seize it before additional forces could withhold it. Morgan, 
 elated by success, ordered an instant assault on the city, and 
 without any loss of time, the infuriated multitude advanced to 
 wards the gates. The combat now became terrible; one party 
 fighting for the possession of those golden treasures which had 
 always been the fame of the country, and the envy of foreigners, 
 the other defending their homes, their wives, their children, all 
 that was dear to them. The Panamenians displayed a heroism 
 rivalling that of the ancient Spartans, but considerable as was the 
 havoc which their grape and musket shots occasioned, great as 
 was the number of assailants that fell, the resolution of the 
 Buccaneers was not to be shaken, on the contrary, their eagerness 
 seemed to increase in proportion as their losses augmented. At 
 last, after three hours of close combat, the citizens were vanquish 
 ed, and their conquerors entered triumphantly the "Golden Oup," 
 the object of all their toil and exertion. 
 
 Thus fell Panama, in those days one of the most opulent 
 cities on the American continent. It did not fall before an 
 army, backed by the power and influence of a great nation, 
 but before a band of adventurers, the mere scum of European 
 society. Could at that moment the old Panamenians have risen 
 from their graves, they would have uttered a cry of distress on 
 beholding their offspring praying for mercy at the feet of a set of 
 rovers. Many of the citizens were only the grand-children of 
 those men whose bravery, perseverance and fortitude explored 
 the boundless shores of the Pacific Ocean, the grand-children of 
 those men who overran Central America, Veraguas and Darien, 
 and added the empires of Quito, Peru and Chile to the dominions 
 of the Spanish crown. 
 
20 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 % After the confusion had abated, Morgan assembled his men. 
 and knowing their propensity of indulging too freely in the use 
 of intoxicating beverages after a victory, he pretended to have 
 received information that poison had been introduced into the 
 cellars. The pretence was so plausible that it served its purpose, 
 preventing debauchery which must have proved their inevitable 
 ruin, when considerable bodies of the enemy were still in the 
 neighbourhood and ready to take advantage of any neglect on the 
 part of their foes, in order to renew the attack and recapture 
 the city. Panama was now formally ransacked. It was found to 
 contain great warehouses, well stored with all kinds of valuable 
 merchandize, but as these articles were generally too bulky to be 
 much appreciated, the Buccaneers looked more for the precious 
 metals which could be conveyed across the country with compara 
 tive ease. In this respect, however, they were greviously disap 
 pointed ; the ornaments of the churches and convents, the King's 
 plate and jewels, as well as most other valuables, had been placed 
 onboard a vessel, which, though badly provisioned, and with only 
 one sail on the main-mast, had effected its escape. The intelli 
 gence had hardly been communicated to Morgan, when he sent a 
 large boat with twenty-five men, entreating them to use every 
 means in their power to overtake so valuable a prize. 
 
 The Panamenians had hitherto little felt the consequences of 
 their defeat, but they were to drain the cup of bitterness to the 
 very bottom. Morgan gave, privately, orders to set fire to the 
 principal buildings ; the flames, aided by a strong breeze, soon 
 spread about and consumed a whole street in an hour. The 
 inhabitants as well as the pirates, who were mostly ignorant of 
 the real origin of the fire, tried to quench it by pulling down 
 houses or blowing them up with gunpowder. All was of no avail. 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 21 
 
 lieton- night the greater portion of Panama was reduced to ashes, 
 and nothing remained of the beautiful city save a heap of smoking 
 ruins. Morgan, when accused by his followers of this impolitic 
 atrocity, pointed to the Spaniards as the originators. This 
 assertion, however, found no credit. He delighted in any thing 
 cruel, and had probably no other motive for his incendiary act 
 than Xero had when he wanted to enjoy the sight of a great con 
 flagration. 
 
 Most of the Buccaneers were still encamped outside the walls, 
 Closely united for fear of an attack; but when, after a lapse of 
 several days, the}^ perceived that their opponents were destitute 
 of the necessary courage, they re-entered the city and deposited 
 the sick in the few buildings that had escaped destruction. A 
 careful search was made among the ruins for utensils of plate and 
 gold, by means of which they obtained, especially from the wells 
 and cisterns, considerable quantities. To acquire still more, 
 parties of two hundred men were dispatched into the country. 
 These expeditious were successful, making a considerable number 
 of prisoners, and gathering a great amount of valuables. In order 
 to make the capvives confess where the treasures were concealed, 
 they were subjected to the most cruel tortures, the bare recital 
 of which is horror-striking. The poor wretches could seldom 
 stand the diabolical treatment, and many expired under its 
 application. 
 
 The twenty-five men sent in pursuit of the rich vessel came 
 back, bringing several prizes. They had failed, however, in the 
 real object of their mission, having given themselves up to 
 debauchery instead of proceeding at once on their voyage, and 
 thus enabled the prize to escape. The rage of Morgan knew 
 no bounds, and he instantly dispatched three other boats to re- 
 
AA HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 new the search These cruized several days and visited many 
 ports and creeks, but met with no success. Their disappointment, 
 however, was in some measure relieved by capturing a boat, and 
 afterward at Taboga a ship just arrived from Pay ta and laden with 
 provisions, merchandize and twenty thousand pieces of eight. 
 
 A convoy, which had been sent to Chagres to acquaint those 
 left in charge of the castle with the victory of Panama, returned 
 about the same time. The pirates of that place had dispatched 
 two boats to cruize, which, meeting a Spanish vessel, chased her 
 in sight of the castle. The look-out on the tower perceiving the 
 manoeuvre, instantly hoisted Spanish colours. The stratagem 
 was successful. The vessel in seeking refuge under the cannon 
 of the stronghold, was boarded and plundered. Her cargo con 
 sisted chiefly of provisions, which proved a most welcome and 
 timely supply, relieving the pirates from all fear of starvation. 
 ' This news was joyfully received, and induced Morgan to prolong 
 his stay. New excursions were made, and a regular ransom im 
 posed on every prisoner; if, after applying the torture, the unfor~ 
 tunate beings proved unable to produce the requisite sum, no 
 quarter was granted, no sex or condition spared; the old and the 
 young, men as well as women, all were equally objects of hatred 
 and cruelty. 
 
 More than three weeks had now elapsed since the commence 
 ment of the dreadful catastrophe, and the chief began to think 
 earnestly about his departure, when a plot was discovered which 
 retarded it for awhile. In leading the Buccaneers across the 
 Isthmus, Morgan had opened to them a new field of enterprise. 
 The great Pacific Ocean, of whose riches they had heard so much, 
 and whose waters they had never navigated, stretched in all its 
 majesty before them. The prospect was so tempting, that a 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 23 
 
 considerable number contemplated the plan of leaving Morgan, 
 and proceeding to Efurope b}>" way of the East Indies. They in 
 tended to take the ship lately captured at Taboga, and had 
 already secretly gathered provisions and naval stores, when their 
 proceedings were discovered. Morgan's resolution was instantly 
 taken. He issued orders to cut down the main-mast, and burn it 
 together with all the boats and coasting vessels that had been 
 seized. Thus, a seperation was prevented which must have 
 proved fatal to all engaged in the invasion. 
 
 The preparations for the departure were actively resumed. 
 Many of the prisoner's received permission to seek for money to 
 ransom themselves, from their relations or friends; the whole of 
 the artillery was spiked, and a strong party sent in search of the 
 Governor, who, it was reported intended to make an attack. It 
 was soon ascertained, however, that though he entertained such 
 an intention, the people under his command, disheartened by their 
 series of misfortunes, had refused to comply with his orders. At 
 last all was in readiness for a start, and on the 24th of February, 
 1671, the pirates left the still smoking ruins, carrying off six 
 hundred prisoners and one hundred and seventy-five beasts of 
 burden laden with spoil. One party of the pirates marched in the 
 van, another in the rear, and the captives in the centre. When 
 the march commenced nothing was heard save lamentations and 
 shrieks. The women begged on their knees to restore them to 
 liberty, and not take them from their native land, but Morgan 
 remained deaf to their solicitations, and was unmoved by their 
 tears. On arriving at the village of Cruces it was proclaimed that 
 every one who was not ransomed within three days would be 
 transported as a slave to Jamaica. Many were released by their 
 friends and relations, but a great number were not so fortunate, 
 
24 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 and some of the inhabitants of Graces were led into hopeless 
 slavery. 
 
 After collecting all the rice and Indian corn that could be 
 obtained, the Buccaneers departed from the village on the 5th of 
 March, taking the same route as before, the river Chagres. When 
 nearly half way, Morgan commanded a general halt, and muster 
 ing, every one was obliged to take his oath that he had not con 
 cealed or appropriated to himself a particle of the spoil. As 
 might have been expected this solemnity proved a mere farce 
 among a community of men whose morality was of so lax a nature. 
 It was, therefore, necessary to have a different mode of investi 
 gation. By common consent each company appointed an inspec 
 tor, and the chief was the first who submitted himself to their 
 search. The French assisting in the expedition had a great aver 
 sion to these proceedings, and loudly protested against it; but 
 forming the minority they had to submit. After the search was 
 completed all re-embarked and arrived at Chagres on the 9th of 
 March. 
 
 A boat was sent to Portobello to ask the Spanish authorities 
 for a ransom of the Castle of San Lorenzo. Their answer however, 
 as had been anticipated, was that Morgan might do whatever lie 
 pleased, they would not give a single real for the place. It was 
 accordingly razed to the ground, and, there being no further pros 
 pect of booty, the spoil was divided. This proceeding gave rise 
 to much disappointment ; instead of the golden treasures which 
 the men expected to obtain, each, after all the toil and danger, 
 received only the scanty sum of two hundred pieces of eight; the 
 rest Morgan kept, for himself. The whole community was exas 
 perated in the highest degree, and loudly demanded proper share; 
 no sooner, however, did Morgan see difficulties arising than he 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMU8 OF PANAMA. 26 
 
 Clipped bh cable, and accompanied by four other ships, his ac 
 complices in the fraud escaped to Jamaica. The indignation of 
 the fleet knew no bounds on finding themselves deserted, cheated 
 in the grossest manner, and unprovided with every necessary for 
 the continuation of the voyage. 
 
 With this act Morgan seems to have concluded his piratical 
 career. He was, undoubtedly, a man who not only displayed 
 infinite bravery, but the highest qualities of a great commander; 
 unhappily, however, like most of his predecessors, he was cruel, 
 blood-thirsty and treacherous. He was afterwards knighted by 
 Charles II., and became successively Commissioner of the Ad 
 miralty Court in Jamaica, and Deputy Governor of that Island. 
 The elevation of the ruffian to these high posts has been censured, 
 and called an unwise act. They were far from being so. England, 
 at that period, began to perceive the full danger of her policy 
 towards the Buccaneers, and became sensible that it was high 
 time to put a stop to their proceedings. Their suppression, how 
 ever, was attended with great difficulties. An association so 
 deeply rooted was not so easily disbanded, and, though Jamaica 
 and the other English colonies in the West Indies were suffered to 
 be no longerthe resting place of villains and rovers, no ordinary 
 authority could act effectually towards its dispersion. It became 
 therefore, absolutely necessary to select a person of their own 
 caste a kind of Vidocq who was thoroughly acquainted with 
 ever} r detail of the institution, and possessed a perfect knowledge 
 of the entire ramifications of the piratical system. No man was 
 better qualified for this service than Henry Morgan, once their 
 notorious chief, and that those who availed themselves of this 
 instrument had not miscalculated was sufficiently proved by 
 subsequent events. Morgan exercised the utmost severity to- 
 
26 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA, 
 
 wards his former associates, and was one of the most effectual 
 checks to their future operations. 
 
 The destruction of the City of Panama had been so complete 
 that the authorities availed themselves of the opportunity of 
 shifting the settlement from its low and unhealthy position to the 
 little peninsula six miles westward, which communicating only 
 on its western extremity with the main Iand 7 and being unap 
 proachable from the sea side by vessels of any size, offered great 
 advantages for defence, and possessed a more salubrious climate, 
 conditions which not only the late invasion dictated, but the 
 health of the colonists demanded. The rebuilding commenced in 
 1673, two years after Morgan's exploit. The new city was 
 strongly fortified; and, since wood had proved so fatal, all the 
 houses were constructed of stone. Many of the Panamenians 
 were adverse to the shifting of the capital, and still continued 
 residing in the old city or Panama viejo, as henceforward it was 
 termed but gradually they followed the common tide; and before 
 many years elapsed the spot was entirely deserted. 
 
 The people had good reason to be apprehensive about their 
 security, for the designs of the Buccaneers, though deferred, were 
 not altogether defeated. The maxim of ' ; no peace beyond the 
 line," being duly acknowledged, the war was renewed, and 
 
 
 
 immediately another blow struck against Portobello, which had 
 scarcely revived from its late sack. The attack being successfully 
 accomplished, the rovers shared the spoils to the amount of one 
 hundred and sixty pesos a man. The whole fleet then assembled 
 at Bocas del Toro in the Lagoon of Chiriqui, where intelligence 
 was received that peace had been concluded between the Spaniards 
 and the Indians of Darien; but that the martial Dariens, contrary 
 to the new alliance, had been faithful to Captain Bournano, a- 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 27 
 
 French commander, in his attempt on Chepo, and promised to 
 conduct him to Tocamora, which was said to abound in riches. 
 This information determined their future plans. All agreed to 
 visit the place, and after taking in a supply of tortoises, and 
 refitting the ships, the adventurers' fleet left Bocas del Toro, 
 directing its course towards the east. Another rendezvous and 
 general mustering took place at the Water Key. The whole 
 force was now found to consist of nine sail, amounting to four 
 hundred and forty-eight tons, carrying forty -two guns, and four 
 hundred and seventy-seven men. The largest vessel of one hun 
 dred and fifty tons, twenty-five guns and one hundred and seven 
 men, was commanded by Peter Harris, the rest by -John Coxon, 
 Richard Sawkins, Bartholomew Sharp, Edmond Cook, Bournano, 
 Alleston, Row and Macket, names most of which attained an 
 unusual degree of notoriety. There was, however, on board of 
 Captain Coxon's ship a person destined for a brighter fame, who 
 amidst the general vice and debauchery around him, faithfully 
 recorded the transactions of this singular association, and trans 
 mitted to posterity the most useful account of the discoveries and 
 adventures attending the success of the Buccaneers. This person 
 was William D ampler, a name ever memorable in the Annals of 
 Geographical science, and justly classed among the great naval 
 worthies in which the British Islands have been so prolific. Basil 
 Ringrove and Lionel Wafer, the surgeons, were also men of talent 
 accompanying the expedition. To the former the world is indebt 
 ed for an account of the proceedings of the Buccaneers, to the 
 .latter for his description of Darien. (.1) 
 
 The Buccaneers departed from the Water Key towards the 
 
 >"":'. '.', ~ -...-..-..- ---- 
 
 !'.., ' f! ." v Lt 14 
 
 (1) H. W. Sni yth Biographical Sketch of Captain Dampier. History of the 
 Buccaneers. Part iv. Chap. i. 
 
S HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 end of 1679, steering for the Samballas group. Not far from 
 Portobello the packet from Carthagena was taken and her letters- 
 contained "reports of a most singular nature. The merchants of 
 several parts of Old Spain thereby informed their trans- Atlantic 
 correspondents of a certain prophecy current about Spain. There 
 would be that year, it was said, Knglish privateers in the West 
 Indies, who would mako such discoveries as to open a door to 
 the South Sea. On arriving at the Samballas Islands, the Indians 
 came to welcome their friends, bringing refreshments and things 
 for barter. The aborigines, however, showed a dislike to the 
 design on Tocamora probably, because no such place existed 
 but they were willing to conduct the pirates in secrecy to within 
 a few leagues of Panama. This proposal was approved of by the 
 English, but the French under Bournano and Row, were against 
 a long inarch over land, and seperated in consequence. The 
 former now reduced to seven sail, were piloted by Andreas, an 
 Indian Chief, to the Golden Island, where tempting information 
 was received of the town of Santa Maria on the Gulf of San 
 Miguel. (2.) 
 
 Persuaded by the Indians, they resolved to hazard an attack 
 on Santa Maria, and to proceed thence by sea to Panama (3.) 
 Having taken precautions for guarding the ships, one hundred and 
 thirty-one men were landed on the 5th of April, 1680, all, or most 
 of them, armed with a fusile, a pistol and a hanger, and each man 
 provided besides with four cakes of bread, called dough boys, and 
 toys for the gratification of the natives. The party was accorn- 
 
 (2) This place must not be confounded with Santamaria la Antigua del 
 Darien, founded by Balboa on the river Darien, which long before this period, 
 had ceased to exist, nor with Santa Maria, the village in the Canton of Nata, 
 Province of Panama. The Santa Maria attacked by the Buccaneers is still in 
 existence: and contained in 1843, according to the census then taken, 204 
 inhabitants. 
 
 (3) History of the Buccaneers, Part iv. Chap I. W. Smyth, Biographical 
 Sketch of Capt. Dampier. 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 29 
 
 panied by some of the Dariens, the hereditar}^ foes of the 
 Spaniards; and several of the faithful, active and intelligent Mos 
 quito Indians. On commencing the journey all were marshalled 
 into divisions, with distinguishing flags, under their several 
 commanders, Bartholomew Sharp taking the lead. On the third 
 day of the march an Indian Cacique came in full staie to receive 
 the invaders. He wore a garment of white cotton, extending 
 down to his ancles, and a crown curiously constructed of gold ? 
 silk and feathers. In his nose hung a large piece of gold shaped 
 like a crescent, and in his ears great rings of the same metal; a 
 bright lance glittering in his hand completed the costume. His 
 wife, three sons and several chiefs accompanied him. The chiefs 
 stoud always bare-headed before him, and were clad and armed 
 like himself. His wife wearing a red blanket closely girt around 
 the waist, and another loosely over the head and shoulders, cr-r- 
 ried a child, and was attended by two daughters, whose faces 
 were painted with red stripes, and whose arms and necks were 
 decorated with beads of various colors. After the Cacique had 
 presented each man with three plantains and some sugar cane 
 to suck, a brisk traffic was opened in which the Indians exhibited 
 an unusual degree of shrewdness. (4.) 
 
 A tedious march of nine days brought the Buccaneers to Santa 
 Maria. The place was taken without the loss of a single man on 
 their side. The Spaniards had twenty-six killed and sixteen 
 wounded, and after the surrender many others were deliberately 
 butchered by the Indians. The pirates however were disappoint 
 ed. Instead of a considerable town which the description of the 
 aborigines led them to anticipate, a miserable village with a small 
 fort, cane huts, and a feeble garrison was found. If the place was 
 
 (4) Smyth ibid. History of the Buccaneers. Part IT. Chap. i. n. 
 
60 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA, 
 
 bad their fortunes were worse. They arrived only three days too 
 late for three hundred weight of gold which had been shipped for 
 Panama, being the produce of the gold mines of the adjacent 
 country. Moreover the governor, priest, and other persons of 
 rank, from whom large sums might have been extracted, had 
 escaped. After holding Santa Maria for two days, and having 
 deposed Sharp from the chief command and elected Coxon, the 
 Buccaneers on the 17th April 1680, embarked in canoes and boats 
 for the South sea. The greater part of the allies being unwilling 
 to proceed farther left the expedition, though the Cacique and his 
 son, the Cacique Bonete de oro or king golden cap as the 
 Spaniards called him, and his kinsman followed. (I.} Ere long 
 two barks were taken, but a third seeing herself chased, made all 
 sail for Panama, and soread the news of the arrival of pirates. 
 The prisoners previously made and others captured at the island 
 of Chepillo, were handed over to the Indians, whose hatred 
 was too deeply rooted to give them any quarter. 
 
 On the 23d of April 1680, the Flotilla arrived in sight of 
 Panama, but no sooner was it descried than three Spanish ships 
 made towards it, two of which, after a fierce and sanguinary con 
 flict, were carried by boarding ; the third saved herself by flight. 
 The Spanish commander with many of his people fell, while of 
 the Buccaneers eighteen men were killed and about thirty wound 
 ed, among the latter was Captain Harris, mortally. The valour 
 and skill of Captain Sawkins mainly contributed to the victory, 
 and on Coxon's return to the North sea, he was unanimously 
 chosen commander. 
 
 The vessels being overcome all the ships in the port of Perico 
 were made prizes of, and every vessel that entered fell into their 
 
 (1) Smyth, ibid. History of the Buccaneers. Part iv., Chap. 3. 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 31 
 
 hands. Having taken everything within veach, the privateers 
 went to Taboga, Panama being too well prepared for an attack. 
 During their stay at that island they fired the village and received 
 a message from the Governor of Panama, who inquired " why 
 they came to his jurisdiction, and from whom they obtained their 
 commission ?" To which Sawkins replied, " their object was to 
 assist the King of Darien, the legitimate lord of the country, and 
 as to the commissions, the company was not yet assembled, but 
 when all were united they would not fail to wait upon him in 
 order to present them." (2.) 
 
 Having taken in a supply of provisions at Otoque, their 
 course was directed to the Island of Coyba, on the coast of 
 Veraguas, and thence to Pueblo Nuevo de los Remedies. (3.) 
 There a disaster occurred. Sawkins in leading his men to the as 
 sault was slain, and, on his fall, Sharp, the next in command, 
 was so disheartened that he ordered a retreat. The death of the 
 chief proved a serious blow, it being followed by discontent and 
 defections on the part of the men, Sharp being held in great dis 
 like. 
 
 Those who remained with the commander now changed their 
 course southward, touching at several islands, taking the coast 
 town of Islay, and burning the city of La Serena on the route. 
 On Christmas-day, they reached Juan Fernandez, where Sharp, 
 who had always been unpopular with the ablest men, and had 
 been chosen by but a small majority, was again formerly deposed, 
 and Capt. Watling elected in his stead. (4.) 
 "' " "; 
 
 (2) Smyth, ibid. History of the Buccaneers. Part iv., Chap. 38. 
 
 (3) There are two places ot the name of "Pueblo Nuevo" on the Isthmus, 
 the one situated in the Bay of Panama, is called Pueblo Nuevo de San Carlos, 
 the other standing on the Southern coast of Veraguas, Pueblo Nuevo de los 
 Remedies. 
 
 (4) Smyth, ibid. History of the Buccaneers, Part iv., Chap. 9. 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 On the 12th of January 1681, the Buccaneers were suddenly 
 alarmed by the appearance of three Spanish men-of-war. Neither 
 party being anxious to fight, the ships separated, and the 
 rovers resumed their predatory attacks. At length they made 
 an attempt upon Arica, but were repulsed with loss. Among the 
 slain were Capt. Watling, the boatswain, both quarter-masters, 
 and some of the best hands. Disheartened by this failure, the 
 band of marauders retired to the Isle of Plata. There fresh dis 
 sension arose respecting the choice of another chief, and they 
 split into two factions. Before proceeding to an election, it was 
 agreed that the majority together with the new leader should 
 keep the ship, and that the minority should content themselves 
 with the canoes and other small craft. Captain Sharp, who had 
 ingratiated himself with the meaner set, was declared at the head 
 of the poll. Those who voted against him Dampier among the 
 number despising a commander so deficient in courage and 
 enterprise, resolved to repass the Isthmus. (1.) 
 
 They quitted the ship with the launch and a couple of canoes, 
 their party being composed of forty-four white men, two Mosquito 
 Indians, a Spanish Indian, and five black slaves, and their provi 
 sions consisting of about a quarter of a hundred weight of choco 
 late rubbed up with sugar, and as much flour as they could stow 
 away. All things being prepared, in order to deter the weak or 
 inactive from engaging in so perilous an enterprise, they entered 
 into a mutual compact, that, if any faltered on the journey, he 
 should be killed, as but one man falling into the hands of the 
 enemy must betray the others to certain destruction. (2.) 
 
 On approaching the Isthmus, they discovered that the 
 
 (1) Smyth, ibid. History of the Buccaneers Part iv., Chap. 10 16. 
 
 (2) Smyth's Biographical sketch of Capt. Dampier. 
 
HFSTOBY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 33 
 
 Spaniards were on the look out. Three men-of-war were cruising 
 olf the coast, and some hundreds of soldiers posted at different 
 stations along the shore. Though several times in extreme 
 danger, the Buccaneers eluded their foes and safely landed in 
 the bay of San Miguel, where, taking out their effects, they sunk 
 the boats that no traces might be seen. On the 1st of May 1681, 
 they began their march over a country difficult from pathless 
 forests, torrents, rivers and rude mountains, and proceeded to t he- 
 north-east. On the evening of the second day, when having al 
 ready become fatigued and dispirited, they fell in with an 
 Indian, who, for the reward of a hatchet, conducted them to a 
 native capable of putting them into the proper route. When, 
 however, they had arrived at his dwelling and explained their 
 wishes, the guide behaved with a sullenni'ss which the Buccaneers 
 could scarcely brook. The moment was critical ; all their lives 
 were in his hands. Every endeavour wa.N used, and recourse had 
 t<> every means likely to propitiate his good will, but he continued 
 obdurate and replied in angry tones. They began to suspect that 
 he was desirous of handing them over to the Spaniards, when 
 ojie of the seamen pulling out an azure colored petticoat, threw it 
 over the lady of the house. The woman was so delighted with 
 the gift that she persuaded her husband to give the requisite 
 information and provide a conductor. (3) 
 
 Reinforced with a guide, the adventurers resumed their 
 journey. During the greater part of the route, the rain fell in 
 torrents : the wet season had fairly set in, and, by swelling 
 the streams, frequently compelled the travelers to stop. On one 
 of these occasions, when taking the opportunity of drying their 
 clothes, arms and ammunition, a disaster befel Lionel Wafer, the 
 
 (3) Smyth, ibid. 
 
34 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 surgeon. He was drying his gunpowder, when one of the party 
 carelessly passed with his pipe and caused an explosion, by which 
 the surgeon's leg was so much burnt, that, after dragging him- 
 .self forward a few days longer, he was compelled to remain among 
 the Dariens, and four others, who had become exhausted by the 
 march, wero reduced to the same necessity. 
 
 On the 23d day of the expedition, the Buccaneers procured 
 canoes to carry them down the river Concepcion, and they soon 
 after arrived at La Sound'* Key, one of the Samballas Islands. 
 Here the worn-out wanderers embarked on board a French 
 cruiser commanded by Captain Tristian. Their Indian guides 
 returned to their homes, loaded with knives, scissors, hatchets and 
 toys, purchased for the purpose by the Buccaneers out of a 
 privateer. This price of good faith had the happiest effects on 
 the condition of the party left behind with Lionel Wafer. (4.) 
 
 The French vessel in which Dampier and his companies em 
 barked, having breamed, was moved over to Springer's Key, 
 another of the Samballas group, where eight more sail, containing 
 upwards of five hundred men, were lying, having assembled for 
 the purpose of making another descent upon Panama. The arrival 
 of the travelers, however, created great commotion. Nothing 
 had been heard of them since the departure of Captain Coxon, a 
 year before. No sooner had Tristian anchored than all the Buc 
 caneer commanders, among the foremost of whom was Coxon 
 himself, repaired on board, and all were overjoyed to see them. 
 After numerous inquiries, the relation of the fatigues and incon 
 veniences undergone, disheartened the listeners from their design, 
 and the assault of other places was taken into consideration. 
 Dampier and his friends were now placed with a Captain 
 
 (4) Smyth, ibid. 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 35 
 
 Archembo because all the other ships were over-manned, but 
 they conceived sucli a dislike to their foreign shipmaster, that 
 they prevailed on Captain Wright to fit out and arm a prize 
 for them to cruise in. Thus aceomqdated, the companions sailed 
 from place to place in quest of provisions, being forced to depend 
 upon sea cows, parrots, gulls, boobies, monkeys and wild fruit. (1) 
 On returning from this cruise to La Sound's Key, guns were 
 tired for the Indians to come on board, in order to obtain tidings 
 of the men left among the Dariens. Those persons having arrived, 
 the signal was immediately answered by their repairing to their 
 old associates. All the natives had vied in attention and kind 
 ness to the party, and Lionel Wafer in particular had been treated 
 with distinction by the chief, who, in admiration of his surgical 
 ability, had offered him his daughter in marriage, refusing nothing 
 save the liberty of going away. At length Wafer attempted to 
 obtain permission to depart, under pretext of going in search of 
 English sporting dogs for the copper-colored Nimrod, whose own 
 kennel consisted of dogs that would hardly run by sight or scent. 
 His clothes having been worn out, Wafer had been painted and 
 ornamented by the women, and went about in the Adamite 
 costume. The four seamen, not having been honoured to the 
 same extent, were presently recognised and heartily welcomed by 
 their old shipmates. But Wafer, cringing upon his hams among 
 the Indians, after their fashion, painted as they were and nearly 
 naked, and with his nose piece hanging over his mouth, was 
 willing to try if he would be known in this disguise, and it was 
 the better part of an hour before one, looking more narrowly 
 upon him, cried out : "Why! here's our doctor !" (2.) 
 
 (1) Smyth, ibid. 
 
 (2) Smyth, ibid. 
 
36 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA, 
 
 Thus, was completed one of the boldest expeditions ever 
 ventured upon by so small a number of men. It would have been 
 well for the interest of the Isthmenians, and the honor of the 
 Europeans had it been the only one. Unfortunately the road 
 once shown, in spite of the obstacles and dangers it presented, 
 was followed by similar parties. The hatred which the Daiien 
 Indians entertained towards the Spaniards, facilitated these 
 undertakings, and the brutal treatment which the unhappy 
 natives had received from their conquerors gave a plausible pre 
 text for disturbing the commerce of a people who had themselves 
 shown so little consideration towards the legitimate children of 
 the soil. But in order to give a still better colour to their 
 atrocities, the rovers always declared that they came to defend 
 the rights of the King or Emperor of Darien, as they emphatically 
 styled him, who or whose ancestors enjoyed but a limited 
 authority over a small tribe, as the aborigines, at the time 
 of the conquest, were divided into many independent conn tries ? 
 and had not been brought under the sceptre of one monarch, as 
 the Peruvians or the Aztecs, nor had themselves advanced suffi 
 ciently to learn that union is strength. 
 
 Though numerous pirates showed themselves from time to 
 time, no serious encroachment on the Spanish territories oc 
 curred until the year 1685, when a party of Buccaneers, that had 
 doubled Cape Horn, intercepted a packet-boat, containing intelli 
 gence from the Governor of Panama that the Galleon had arrived 
 from Old Spain, and desiring the Plate fleet to hasten its de 
 parture from Lima. This intelligence determined the pirates to 
 run for the Pearl Islands, in order to intercept the prize. Their 
 force consisted only of two ships, the Bachelors Delight and the 
 Cygnet , the latter commanded by Captain Swan, an Englishman, 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 37 
 
 the former by Captain Davis, a Fleming, two small tenders, a fire 
 ship and a prize. They were moreover aware that the Spaniards* 
 were armed and fitted for the avowed purpose of not only 
 defending themselves, but also clearing the Pacific of Buccaneers- 
 Having arrived at the Island of Taboga, the Spaniards made an 
 attempt to set these piratical vessels on fire, but through vigilance 
 and good fortune they escaped by cutting their cables. The 
 following morning while regaining their anchors, they were 
 thrown into consternation at seeing a large fleet of canoes full of 
 men advancing. These proved to be Rovers, who had traversed 
 the Isthmus. There were two hundred French and eighty 
 English, commanded by a Captain Grogniet. The Englishmen 
 joined themselves to the Bachelor 's Delight and the Cygnet, and 
 the Frenchmen were ordered to man the prize. Shortly after, 
 another large party who had travelled over the same road were 
 received on board, so that by a fortuitous train of incidents 
 the force was augmented, in an hour of extreme need, to nine 
 hundred and sixty men, in two ships mounting great guns, and 
 eight smaller vessels with fire-arms. (3.) 
 
 For several weeks the freebooting squadron lay nearly op 
 posite Panama, and Davis permitted his men to shoot, fish or 
 pillage among the isles. At length, on the 28th of May, the 
 Spanish fleet hove in sight. According to precise information 
 afterwards obtained from prisoners, it consisted of fourteen sail, 
 besides several peruagos rowing with twelve or fourteen oars a 
 piece. Six sail were large ships; the Admiral, forty-eight guns, 
 three hundred and sixty men; a ship of twenty-four guns, and 
 three hundred men; another of eight guns, two hundred men; 
 two large brulots, six vessels with small arms, having eight 
 
 (3) B. de Lussan Voyage into the South Sea, 1684, 1689 Smyth Biographi 
 cal Sketch of Capt. Dampier.- 
 
do HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 hundred men, besides two or three hundred in the row-boats. 
 Such was the array of that object for which the rovers had so 
 impatiently waited. (4.) 
 
 This disparity did not discourage the gallant Davis, who, 
 unacquainted with the fact of the Spanish Admiral having pru 
 dently landed the treasure before seeking the fight, resolved to 
 acquire wealth and the dominion of the South Seas, by close 
 combat and boarding. He resolutely bore down upon the advancing 
 foe, and exchanged broadsides till night coming on, he forbore 
 further engagement, as from Swan not acting up to his orders, and 
 Grogniet sheering oft' without coming into action at all, he was 
 deprived of his most able ships. From a neglect on the part of 
 the Buccaneers, the Spaniards in the night gained the weather- 
 gage, by the simple stratagem of sending a false light to decoy 
 their adversaries to leeward. The loss of this point was fatal to 
 the method of attack proposed by Davis. It enabled the enemy 
 to choose his own distance. Such being the the case, all hopes 
 of conquest vanished with the returning dawn, and the prospec 
 tive pleasures of riches were superseded by the anxiety of self- 
 preservation. The Spanish ships now became the assailants, 
 steering for them under full sail. There was no alternative for the 
 rovers but to make oft, and a running skirmish was maintained 
 till the evening, when having been chased round the Bay of 
 Panama, they anchored at the very place they had quitted in the 
 morning. Thus ended an engagement from which great results 
 had been expected. Instead of making themselves masters of 
 the Spanish fleet arid treasure, the pirates were glad to escape, 
 and owed that, too, in a measure, to the want of courage on the 
 part of the Spaniards to pursue their advantage. (1.) 
 
 (4) Smyth, ibid. 
 (1) Smyth, ibid. 
 
HISTORY OF THE [STHMUS OF PANAMA. 39 
 
 The dissatisfaction at this discomfiture broke out into 
 reproachful recrimination among the Freebooters. Grogniet ex 
 cused his conduct by declaring that his men would not let him 
 engage; but this did not satisfy the others; he was consequently 
 cashiered, on their arrival at Coyba, for his cowardly behavior. 
 Some were for taking away the ship which they had so generous 
 ly given him. At length he was suffered to keep it with his 
 timorous crew; but they were sent away to another place. (2.) 
 
 Provisions were getting scarce. The Islands of Coyba, 
 though abounding in game and turtles, was uninhabited, and totally 
 unable to maintain so large a body of men. Becoming more dis 
 tressed, a party on the 30th of June, 1685, made a new attempt 
 on Pueblo Nuevo de los Remedios, which succeeded better than 
 the first time, but did not supply the deficiency. The assault on 
 other places was taken into consideration. On the 9th of January, 
 1686, Alanje, the principal town in Chiriqui, was taken and 
 burnt, and on the 18th of November the village of San Lorenzo. 
 A constant cruising was kept up, by means of which many ships 
 were captured, and several treasures intercepted. Though the 
 success by which these exploits were accompanied, tended to 
 make the Buccaneers more daring, and swelled their ranks with 
 fresh recruits, yet it equally prompted the Spaniards to use more 
 precaution and adopt a system of defence which ultimately forced 
 the Rovers to change their field of operations. (3.) The "Treaty 
 of America," concluded in 1670 between England and Spain, 
 though providing for the suppression of the Buccaneers, had 
 proved in this respect merely a piece of waste paper. The war 
 between Great Britain and France in 1688 did more to relieve the 
 Spaniards from this scourge, by disuniting the ancient allies, and 
 
 (2) Smth, ibid. 
 
 (3) Lussan. Journal of a voyage in the South sea, CHAP. n. in. 
 
40 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA, 
 
 the "Treaty of Byswick" in 1697, and four years later the acces 
 sion of a French Prince to the throne of Spain, gave the final 
 blow to an association which for a century disturbed the com 
 merce of America and checked the industry of its inhabitants. 
 
 The courage and enterprising spirit which animated this 
 singular association, the hardships and privations its member* 
 endured, excite admiration. No science profited more by these 
 than geography, no arts more than commerce and navigation. 
 Seas, coasts and islands, which Spanish jealousy thought fit to 
 close and conceal, were traversed and explored, and a greater 
 number of skilful navigators created, than ever yet proceeded 
 in an equal space of time from the rival States of Europe. 
 Many of the Buccaneers were men of observation, and in perusing 
 their volumes, the most superficial observer must be struck with 
 the familiarity they frequently display with the most minute 
 circumstances. About the Isthmus there was hardly an islet. 
 shoal, or river unknown to them; with the interior their acquaint 
 ance was equally extended, and the remarks on the Meteorology. 
 Natural History and Topography do equal credit to the writers. 
 But if the benefits resulting from these exploits receive our ap 
 probation, we turn with disgust from the darker side of the 
 picture. The abominable cruelties the Buccaneers committed, 
 the outrageous proceedings which followed in their track, and 
 the quantity of innocent blood the} r shed, are crimes which no 
 discovery, however brilliant, can counterbalance, nor any severity 
 of the enemy justify. 
 
 While the Isthmus was thus relieved of an association which 
 had long terrified it inhabitants, and disturbed its trade, a com 
 pany was forming in Scotland for the colonization of Darien. 
 The scheme originated in William Paterson, a clergyman, desirous, 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 41 
 
 of visiting foreign pjarts, and who embarked for the New World 
 under pretext of converting the natives. Visiting various ter 
 ritories, he at last reached the Isthmus of Panama, where hb 
 met Captain Dampier and Lionel Wafer. He obtained much 
 information from them, but still more from other old Buccaneers, 
 who, though broken by infirmities and disheartened by misfor 
 tunes, recollected with delight, and spoke with rapture of their 
 crossing from sea to sea, carrying valuable booty or driving 
 before them mules richly loaded with plunder. Paterson deter 
 mined to explore the passage which nature herself seemed to have 
 formed to facilitate commerce, and draw closer the bonds between 
 different nations. In Darien he found a tract of country which 
 the Spaniards had never possessed, and inhabited by a race of 
 Indians who waged continued warfare against them on the 
 Atlantic side of the Samballas, a group of islands rich in natural 
 productions; the sea abounding with turtle and manaties; at Acla- 
 a natural harbor capable of receiving the largest fleet, and 
 sheltered from storms by islands, protected from the enemy by 
 hidden rocks in the entrance; on the opposite shores of the 
 Isthmus harbors of equal excellence, the ridge of hills separating 
 them, though covered with forest, by no means boggy; the soil 
 consisting of rich vegetable mould, producing the finest wild fruits 
 and herbs; and the nature of the territory well adapted for the 
 Construction of roads, upon which mules and even carriages could 
 pass in one day from sea to sea. (4) 
 
 Paterson knew that ships sailing in a strait line from one 
 point to another and only with one wind, run less risk and re 
 quire fewer hands, than those passing through many degrees of 
 latitude and along intricate shores, and requiring different winds. 
 
 (4) Sir John Dalrymple. Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland, VOL. 2. 
 
42 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 He was aware that vessels of eight hundred tons, were found 
 in the South sea managed only by eight or ten sailors, who had 
 little more to do than to make sail on departing, and furl them 
 at the end of the voyage; he was acquainted with the fact that 
 ships from Britain sailing so far south as to meet the trade wind, 
 would be carried to Danen, and that the same wind would take 
 vessels from the Bay of Panama to the East Indies and vice versa; 
 that ships steering from the East Indies to the Bay of Panama, 
 after having reached the 40th degree of northern latitude, would 
 fall in with the westerly wind, blowing in those regions with the 
 regularity of the trades, and which would carry them to the 
 Mexican coast; and that the land and sea breezes would bring them 
 to the Bay of Panama. Hence he concluded that vessels depart 
 ing from Britain, except on the voyage to the South, in the 
 latitude of the trade winds, and those from the East Indies, 
 except on the voyage to the North in the regions of the westerly 
 winds, and ships from the other side of the Isthmus to the East 
 would not encounter uncertain winds. 
 
 Gold was found in different places, but this discovery he 
 regarded of less value. His attention was directed to objects 
 of greater importance the shortening of distances, the closer 
 communication of nations, the preservation ot the lives of seamen 
 and the saving of time and freightage. Paterson in fact conceived 
 the idea of planting on this neglected spot a great and powerful 
 colony, which unlike most settlements of a similar kind, should 
 not be established by accident, or unprotected by their native 
 country, but be founded on a system well conceived, and under 
 the protection of those governments to whom the project was to 
 be offered. (1.) 
 
 (1) Dalrymple, ibid. 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 43 
 
 The first power to whom Paterson intended to propose the 
 scheme was England. That country he thought had the most in 
 terest in it, not only from the advantages he would derive from 
 the shortening of the voyages to the E ist Indies, but from the 
 effect it would produce between her dominions. Paterson how 
 ever had only a few friends, and no interest in London, and to 
 excite public attention and gain the approbation of rich and 
 influential men, he assisted the latter in modelling a plan for the 
 Bank of England, which was then in the year 1694 -in contem 
 plation. But he found to his mortification what many others had 
 experienced. The persons whom he so generously obliged, and 
 who, he expected, would further his object, made use of his 
 ideas, took the honor of them, were polite to him for some time, 
 and neglected him afterwards. He now communicated his project 
 to only a few, and these few discouraged him. He next offered 
 his scheme to the Dutch, the Hamburgers, and the Elector of 
 Brandenburg. The Dutch and Hamburg merchants, who had the 
 most interest in the object of his visit, listened to him with indif 
 ference, the Elector of Brandenburg, who was little interested in 
 the scheme, received him with distinction, but court arts and 
 intrigues to which the honest clergyman was a stranger, soon 
 deprived him of the favor of this prince. (2.) 
 
 Paterson seeing that neither in Germany nor in Holland he 
 could attain his object, returned to London, where he made the 
 acquaintance of Andrew Fletcher of Saltown, who was enthusiastic 
 about all things conducive to public prosperity. He accompanied 
 Paterson to Scotland and introduced him to the Marquis of 
 Tweedale, then Minister for the Scot Kingdom. Fletcher per 
 suaded that nobleman that it would be for the good of the people, 
 
 (2) Dalrymple, ibid. 
 
44 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 and the honor of his administration to accept Paterson's proposal. 
 Lord Stair and Mr. Johnson, the two Secretaries of State 1 . 
 entered into Paterson's plans, and Sir James Stuart, the Lord 
 Advocate, a relation of Stair, went the same road. In June 1095, 
 these men succeeded in obtaining the Act of Parliament, and 
 afterwards a Charter from the crown, to establish commercial 
 companies in Africa and America, with the authority to plant 
 colonies and erect forts, by the consent of the aborigines, at 
 places not yet in possession of European nations. 
 
 Paterson who now began to feel solid ground under his 
 feet and perceived that he was assisted by the power and 
 talents of his native country, and possessed the confirmation 
 of an Act of Parliament and Royal Charter, made the parties 
 acquainted with his project and collected subscriptions for the 
 formation of a company. The rage of the Scots to sign the 
 solemn league and covenant never exceeded the rapidity with 
 which they incorporated their names in the Darien Company. 
 Nobility, gentry, merchants, people, the Royal Burghs without 
 exception, and most of the other public bodies subscribed in a 
 short space of time more than 400,000, although at that period 
 no more than 800,000 cash were said to exist in the whole 
 Kingdom. Paterson's project which was received by foreigners 
 with fear and distrust when disclosed in secret, filled them with 
 hope when coming on the wings of fame. The English forth 
 with subscribed 300,000, and the Dutch and Hamburgers 
 200,000. (3.) 
 
 Commercial jealousy which had so long been silent in 
 England, began now to display itself with the utmost violence. 
 On the 13th December, 1695, both Houses of Parlament agreed. 
 
 (3) Dalrymple, ibid. 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 45 
 
 without previous enquiry or consideration, to protest, in an 
 address to the King-, against the establishment of the Darien 
 Company, as an undertaking: injurious to the interest of the 
 Hast India Company. The English House of Commons soon 
 after, on the 26th of January, 1090, accused some of its own 
 countrymen and several Scots, among them a Peer, Lord 
 lie I haven, of being guilty of high crime and misdemeanor by 
 assisting in establishing the Durien Company. Among six 
 hundred legislators not one had the prudence of proposing or 
 rather the boldness to propose, a committee to inquire into tlu 
 principles and importance of the institution. But at that 
 period a lamentable degree of corruption prevailed in the 
 Kn;ilish Parliament. Many of the members did not shrink 
 from accepting sums from the East India Company, for 
 facilitating bills relating to that body; and it could hardly 
 be expected that under such circumstances, where personal 
 interest was mingled with national prejudice, members should 
 be found ready to expose the injustice of the proceedings. 
 King William's answer to the address was: "I have had bad 
 councillors in Scotland." Soon after he changed his Scottish 
 ministers, and to crown the success of the opposition, sent a 
 memorandum to the Senate of Hamburg, warning it against 
 any connection with the Company. The Senate transmitted 
 the memorandum to the Chamber of Commerce, who returned 
 it with the following reply: "We are surprised to see the King 
 of Britain attempting to hinder us, a free people, from opening 
 communication with whom we please, and we are astonished to 
 perceive that His Majesty intends to prevent us from holding 
 connection with his own subjects in Scotland, on whom lie has 
 lately conferred by act of Parliament, such extensive privi- 
 
46 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 leges." But the mercantile mind was then as now, rather 
 fickle; and soon after Hamburg, Holland and London withdrew 
 their subscriptions. (4.) 
 
 The Scots far from being disheartened by the violence of 
 the opposition, became only more eager to carry out their plans 
 of colonization, and they considered it merely as a proof of the 
 envy of the English and jealousy of the advantages Scotland 
 was to derive from her settlement. The Darien Company 
 ordered six ships to be built in Holland, and engaged twelve 
 hundred colonists. Among them were the sons of noble ancient 
 families, and sixty officers, who had retired at the commence 
 ment of the peace. None but select people accompanied them, 
 principally those who had been brought up on their own or 
 their relations' estates, of whose courage they were certain and 
 of whose attachment there was no doubt. On the 5th August, 
 1698, the Scottish Parliament appealed to the King, imploring 
 him to assist the Company. The Lord President, Sir Hugh 
 Dairymple, brother of Lord Stair and head of the bench, and 
 the Lord Advocate, Sir James Stuart, head of the bar, jointly 
 addressed petitions to His Majesty, in which they defended the 
 rights of the Company, upon the principles of Constitutional 
 and Public law. But all was in vain. The neighboring States 
 saw with surprise and admiration, the poorest Kingdom of 
 Europe dispatching a colony such as never before had left the 
 European shores. (1.) 
 
 In the beginning of September, 1699, the preparations for 
 the Colony had been completed. On the starting day all Edin 
 burgh poured down Leith to see the emigrants depart. So 
 eager were the Scots to embark that many seamen, whose 
 
 (4) J. Wade, British History, chronologically arranged. Third edition, p. 281. 
 (1) Dairymple, ibid. 
 
LIBRARY 
 
 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 47 
 
 services had been rejected on account of the number of appli 
 cations, were concealed on board the ships, and when ordered 
 on shore, they clung to the masts and ropes, imploring the 
 authorities for merely a passage. One thousand five hundred 
 persons embarked in five stout ships, and arrived in Darien on 
 the 4th November, after a voyage of two months, without 
 losing more than fifteen of their number. Their first object 
 was to buy land from the natives, send messengers of peace to 
 the Spanish Governors, and settle at Acla, calling the place, 
 after the patron Saint of Scotland, New St. Andrew, and the 
 country adjacent New Caledonia. (2.) 
 
 Acla is memorable in more than one respect. A few years 
 previous to the Spanish discovery of this coast two brothers 
 reigned over the district, each striving for supreme power, and 
 looking with an envious eye upon his rival. The mutual discon 
 tent broke out at last in open violence. Both took up arms, to 
 let force determine what discussion was unable to settle. The 
 warriors approached each other at Acla, and so enraged were 
 the chiefs, and S3 eager their folio wer.-;, that great misses perished 
 before the parties dispersed. At the arrival of the Spaniards, 
 the bones of the slain were still bleaching in the sup, regarded 
 with awe by the native, with horror by the Castilian. Pedra- 
 rias Davila, delighted with the richness of the adjacent country, 
 erected then in 1515, a fortress in which a few years later he 
 sacrificed the lives of the gallant Balboa and his enterprising 
 companions. The uncultivated Indian named the place Acla 
 or men's bones arena of envy would have been a more 
 appropriate appellation ; for the same passion which prompted 
 the brother to lift up the hand against his brother, inspired 
 
 (2) Dalrymple, ibid. Wade, ibid, pago 287. 
 
48 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 Davila to execute the discoverer of the South Sea, and also was 
 to prove the ruin of the honest Scot. (3.) 
 
 The Colonists set actively to work improving the harbor of 
 Acla or as it is now termed Puerto de Escoces. A canal was 
 cut and a fort erected on. which fifty guns were planted. On 
 one side of the port rose a hill about a mile high, where a watch- 
 house was built which gave them an extensive survey, and 
 guarded against surprise. The Highlanders were often observed 
 enjoying the cool air of this hill, and talking of home and 
 friends friends whose expectations were as high as their 
 mountains. The first public aet of the colony was a proclama 
 tion declaring commercial and religious liberty. This great idea 
 which, even at the present day, few nations are fully able to 
 appreciate, originated in the enlightened mind of Paterson. (4) 
 
 Meanwhile the East India Company, aided by the English, 
 pursuaded the King to ruin the Colony. Orders were dispatched 
 to the Governors of the Indian and American possessions to 
 issue proclamations, prohibiting all assistance to the emigrants 
 or connection with them. The Scots, who expected a far 
 different treatment, had not taken sufficient provisions, and 
 being suddenly cut off, they fell sick from want of food. The 
 Indians were more generous to them, and by hunting and fishing 
 gave that aid which Europeans so disgracefully refused. But 
 they were unable to support so large a body of men. Eight 
 months passed and no succour arrived ; in vain the sufferers 
 looked over the broad ocean, no friendly bark appeared, despair 
 seized the boldest heart, and nearly all died or left the fatal 
 spot. (1.) 
 
 (3) Herrera, Decad II, Libro II, Cap. I. and Decad II, Libro III, Cap. V. 
 Herrera Decad IV, Libro I, Cap. X. 
 
 (4) Dalrymple, ibid. 
 (1) Dalrymple, ibid. 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 49 
 
 During the two years the establishment of the Colony had 
 "been going on, Spain had raised no complaints against Scotland. 
 The Darien Council asserts even in its documents, that, previous 
 to the departure of the settlers, the rights of the Company had 
 been discussed before the King of Spain, and in presence of the 
 Scotch Ambassador. But now the Spanish Ambassador in 
 London transmitted a note in which he complained of the settle 
 ment in Darien, as an encroachment on the rights of his master. 
 The Scotch, unacquainted with the misfortune of the Colony, 
 but vexed about this note, sent a reinforcement of one thousand 
 three hundred men to assist an establishment which already had 
 ceased to exist. This party had been prepared more hastily, 
 and was unfortunate in the voyage. One of the ships was 
 wrecked, many of the emigrants died on board, and the rest 
 arrived at Darien at different times, mostly sick, and disheartened 
 on hearing the misfortunes of their predecessors. To add to 
 the calamity of the first Colony, the second had its peculiar 
 disasters. The assembly of the Scotch Kirk had sent four 
 clergymen with orders to elect ecclesiastical government func 
 tionaries, and establish Divine Service. On arriving at Darien 
 the four delegates found the officers and gentlemen employed 
 building houses with their own hands, as no assistance could be 
 obtained from others ; yet they complained that no instant 
 orders were given to erect houses for them. Not having taken 
 the precaution to bring letters from the Directors to the Darien 
 Council, they were not received with the attention they 
 expected by the higher class of colonists. They therefore 
 directed themselves to the lower settlers, and gave rise to many 
 dissentions. They exhausted the patience of the people by long 
 service, lasting four or five hours. In addition to the usual 
 
50 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 observance of the Sabbath, Wednesday was selected for a day 
 of devotion ; and so much was the regular service augmented 
 that it frequently lasted twelve hours without interruption, the 
 congregation assembling in a garrison room. All this occurred 
 in an unhealthy season of a tropical climate, and could not have 
 had other but prejudical effects on the health of the colonists. 
 Nor did these fanatics stop here. They wrote and promulgated 
 an address to the Council, in which they demanded an additional 
 day to be devoted to fasting and humiliation. The reason 
 assigned was the sins of the colonists, in enumerating which 
 they did not fail to heap abuse upon the authorities. They 
 discouraged the people by constantly representing hell as the 
 end of all the lives of most men, and carrying the doctrine of 
 predestination to an extreme point, they prevented all exertion. 
 Forced at last to leave the settlement, they tried to exculpate 
 themselves by writing libels to the General Assembly against 
 the character and advantages of the Colony. (2.) 
 
 At the time these events happened in Darien, the parties in 
 Britain were actively contending, and on the 12th February, 
 1700, the English House of Lords addressed the King against 
 the re-establishment of the Scotch Colony. The delicate posi 
 tion of William III. can be imagined. An elected monarch and 
 sovereign over a people in whom national prejudices and party 
 feelings were yet at their height, he was worse than powerless. 
 In pleasing the one he offended the other, in countenancing the 
 Scots he enraged the English. In the question before him he 
 steered a course best suited to his sagacity ; he again proposed a 
 Union between England and Scotland, but this proposal was 
 once more rejected. 
 
 (2) Dalrymple, ibid. 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 51 
 
 At the same time the Commons resolved that a book, en 
 titled " An Enquiry into the Causes of the Miscarriages of the 
 Scotch Colony at Uarien," was a false, scandalous, and traitor 
 ous libel, and ordered it to be burnt by the hangman, and issued 
 a proclamation for apprehending the author. The Scots were 
 equally eager. They petitioned the King (Feb. 25, 1700,) to 
 call a parliament in that Kingdom, in order to re-establish the 
 affairs of their American and East India Company, which they 
 apprehended labored under very great hardships both at home 
 and abroad. The King promised that their Parliament should 
 meet. At a sitting on the 21st of May, 1700, a vote was pro 
 posed : " That the Colony of Darien was a loyal and rightful 
 settlement, and that the Parliament would maintain and sup 
 port it." But the High Commissioner adjourned them from 
 time to time, to prevent the question being put, of which the 
 Scotch complained in a national address to King William. (3.) 
 
 After the second party of colonists had been settled three 
 months, they were joined by Captain Campbell and a body of 
 men from his estates whom he had commanded in Flanders, and 
 brought in his own ship to Darien. On their arrival at New St. 
 Andrew, all was in consternation, intelligence having been re 
 ceived that a Spanish force of sixteen hundred men had arrived 
 from the coast of the South sea and was encamped at Ibuganti, 
 awaiting only the co-operation of a naval squadron to attack the 
 settlement. The Scots determined to commence hostilities 
 before the junction took place. The supreme command having 
 been conferred on Captain Campbell, for his reputation as a 
 soldier, they marched to Inbuganti. The enterprise proved suc 
 cessful. During the night the enemy was surprised and dispersed 
 
 (3) J. "Wade, ibid, pape 288 and 289. 
 
52 HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 
 
 with slaughter. On the fifth da}^ Captain Campbell returned 
 to New St. Andrew. The Spanish fleet had arrived, the troops 
 had been landed, and nearly all hopes of succour cut oif. He 
 threw himself in the fort, and in spite of all disadvantages, stood 
 a close siege for six weeks, until the greater part of the officers 
 were killed. The enemy in advancing had cut off the water, all 
 their shot was expended, and for the balls recourse was obliged 
 to be had to the pewter vessels of the garrison. Resistance 
 being hopeless, the colonists accepted an honorable capitulation. 
 Not only did they obtain the honors of war, but the property of 
 the Company was respected, and, as if the Scotch had been the 
 victors, hostages were sent for the faithful execution of the 
 conditions. Campbell alone refused to accept the capitulation. 
 The Spaniards, he said, could never forgive him the injury he 
 had inflicted. The brave often escape that death which they 
 seem to challenge. Campbell succeeded in effecting his escape 
 on board his ship, and safely reached Scotland. The Company 
 presented him with a gold medal with a flattering inscription, and 
 Lord Lyon, King at Arms, gave him an Indian and a Highlander 
 as supporters of his coat of arms. (4.) 
 
 A severer fate awaited those whom Campbell had left at 
 Darien. Their health was so much weakened that they were 
 unable to weigh the anchor of the Rising Sun, one of their ships 
 with sixty guns ; but the Spaniards generously assisted them. 
 When the vessel left the harbor it stranded, but even here the 
 enemy showed forbearance, though to make the ruin complete, 
 they need have done nothing more than look on. The ships, 
 leaky and badly manned, were repeatedly obliged to seek shelter 
 in Spanish and English ports. The Spaniards showed them 
 
 (4) Dalrmyple, ibid. 
 
HISTORY OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 53 
 
 kindness, the English Governors the contrary, and at one place 
 a ship was detained and seized. Of all the vessels only that of 
 Captain Campbell and a small one were saved. The Rising Suit 
 was stranded on the bar of Charlestown ; and of this powerful 
 Colony no more than thirty souls who had been saved from war, 
 ship-wreck, famine, and disease, reached their native coun 
 try. (1) 
 
 Paterson, who had firmly borne the misfortune, sunk under 
 its reaction. On the homeward voyage he became lunatic. He 
 recovered in his native country, and with a spirit still active 
 and unbroken, he presented a new plan, founded on the idea of 
 King William, that England and Scotland should have jointly 
 possession of the settlement. He lived afterwards many years 
 in Scotland, pitied, respected, but neglected. After the union 
 of the kingdoms (1707) he claimed compensation for his losses, 
 out of the money paid by England, as amends to the Darien 
 Company. However, he received nothing. Poor Paterson ! 
 How different might have been his fate if the project had suc 
 ceeded ! How different the aspect of Spanish America ! By 
 spreading liberal, religious, political and commercial ideas, the 
 influence of the Colony would, probablj', have shaken to the 
 very foundation the system of blind superstition practised in 
 that country, given the death blow to Spanish despotism, paved 
 the way for the abolition of commercial monopolies, and con 
 ducted the inhabitants at an earlier period to that state of civil 
 and religious liberty, which, during the present century they 
 have made such efforts to obtain. 
 
 (1) Dalrymple, ibid. 
 
Ar. OLKMKXT. L. 8. BKTHANCOURT. 
 
 ASPINWALL HOTEL, 
 
 OOIEtKTEIR, DMI^IUXr Sc JIZR-A-LIDOT STS- 
 
 THIS WELL-KNOWN AND FAVORITE HOTEL which 
 lias just undergone the most complete renovation in all its de 
 partments, is the largest, most convenient, and best on the 
 Isthmus. It contains very fine, airy, and well furnished Bed 
 rooms, a splendid Reception Room, large and pleasant Dining 
 Halls, Bath-rooms, Bar-room, and all the requirements of a first- 
 dass Hotel. The Culinary Department is under the superin 
 tendence of the senior Proprietor, 
 
 Monsieur CLEMENT, 
 
 assisted by the best of French cooks, and the table is bountifully 
 supplied with all the luxuries procurable in this market as well 
 us from abroad. 
 
 Persons visiting the HOTEL will always meet with kind and 
 obliging Proprietors and polite servants. 
 
 N.B. THE BEST OF ALL KINDS OF WINES AND CIGARS OF OUR 
 
 0\VX IMPORTATION. 
 
 CLEMENT & BETHANCOURT. 
 
THROUGH LINE OF STEAMERS BETWEEN NEW 
 
 YORK, SAN FRANCISCO, JAPAN AND 
 
 CHINA, VIA THE ISTHMUS. 
 
 THIS COMPANY now performs a THRICE MONTHLY 
 Service between NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO, with 
 ELEGANT NEW STEAMERS, built expressly for the trade, and fit 
 ted up with an especial view to the comfort of Passengers. 
 
 DATES OF DEPARTURE FROM NEW YO'RK 1st, llth and 21st, 
 (or on Saturday, when these dates fall on Sunday.) 
 
 DATES OF ARRIVAL AT ASPINWALL (COLON) 9th, 19th & 29th. 
 
 DATES OF DEPARTURE FROM ASPINWALL (COLON) FOR NEW 
 YORK 1st, 12th or 13th, and 23rd. 
 
 DATES OF DEPARTURE FROM PANAMA FOR SAN FRANCISCO 
 9th, 19th and 29th Steamer of the 9th touches at Manzanillo. 
 and all at Acapulco. 
 
 DATES OF DEPARTURE FROM SAN FRANCISCO 10th, 19th and 
 30th (or on Saturday, when these dates fall on Sunday.) 
 
 ARRIVAL AT PANAMA 1st, 12th or 13th, and 22nd or 23rd. 
 
 TO1 t@@>!TO STl^dlR Wm JAPAN & QHMSOA 
 
 Will leave San Francisco, April 3rd, 1867, (the Steamer 
 leaving Panama on or about 19th March, connecting with 
 her) and due notice of subsequent voyages will be given. 
 
 Cargo taken under Through Bills of Lading to New York or 
 San Francisco, upon application to the Agents of the Pacific 
 Steam Navigation Company on the South-west Coast, and to 
 those of the Panama Railroad Company on the Central Ameri> 
 can Coast. 
 
 Through Bills of Lading will also be issued for San Francisco by the Agent of 
 the Compagnie Generale Transatlantique at St. Nazaire, by the Agent of the 
 Royal "West India Mail Company at Southampton, and by the Agent of the West 
 India and Pacific Steamship Company at Liverpool. 
 
 Through Passage Tickets for this line issued by the Agents of the Pacific Steam 
 Navigation Company at the ports on the South-west Coast. 
 
 THROUGH TICKETS TO LIVERPOOL issued by this line, connecting at 
 NEW YORK with the Steamers of the 
 
 STEAJVt TS"A.T r ICrA.TIOTV OO.; 
 
 ALSO TO HAVRE BY THE STEAMERS OF THE 
 
 GENERAL, TRANSATLANTIC STEAMSHIP COMPANY. 
 
 For further information, apply to 
 
 D. M. CORWINE, Agent, Panama. 
 G. B. GIBBONS, Agent, Aspinwall. 
 
Without Trans-shipment on the 
 
 WEST INDIA & PACIFIC STEAMSHIP CO,, 
 
 [L I M I T E D.] 
 
 HALF-MONTHLY 
 
 ASPLWALL; AND 
 
 Leaving on the 10th and 25th of each Month. 
 
 THE Steamers of this line are all first cla<8 and have superior accommoda 
 tions for passengers, (only first class being admitted). 
 
 Fare from Colon to Liverpool - - 30 00 Sterling, 
 
 Fare and return trip Ticket available for 
 
 one year. 45 00 Sterling. 
 
 Fare for Servants, according to Tariff. 
 
 1'nssenger arriving from the Pacific n re allowed to so on board the steamers 
 at Colon, 3 days before iheir sailing, without extra charge. 
 
 Passengers from the Coast proceeding to Europe can obtain Through Tickets 
 by The West India and Pacific Steamship Company's Steamers, and will find the 
 Cabin accommodation of the vessels very superior. They will also have the 
 advantage of avoiding any change of Steamer? between Colon and Liverpool. 
 
 The Service between Colon and Liverpool is performed by the following mag- 
 nifu-ent steamers : 
 
 COLU JIBIAN 
 
 AMERICAN 
 
 CALIFORNIA!! 
 
 WEST INDIAN 
 
 CARRIBEAN 
 
 CUBAN 
 
 VENEZUELAN 
 
 AUSTRALIAN 
 
 2,2OO tons Capt. 
 
 1,831 
 
 Q 
 
 
 
 66 
 66 
 46 
 
 
 
 66 
 
 66 
 
 Baker. 
 
 Cronipton. 
 
 Sivell. 
 
 miller. 
 
 Moare. 
 
 Whitburn. 
 
 Butcher. 
 
 [Building.] 
 
 1.831 
 1,804 
 
 1,804 
 1,334 
 1,831 
 2,4OO 
 
 And others equal to the above. 
 
 This Company h>ve arrangements with the Panama Railroad Company, the 
 Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, for 
 the conveyance of Goods and Specie on Through Bills of Ladii>g at through rates 
 of freight between the various ports on thf> Pacific Coasts of North, South and 
 Central America and Liverpool, London, Hamburg, Antwerp, Bremen, Havre, 
 Bordeaux, Cadiz, Santander and Barcelona; also to ports in the West Indie- and 
 Gulf of Mexico. 
 
 For Tariff of Freight and other particular*, apply to the Agents of the Steam 
 ers on the Pacir.c Coast, or to 
 
 P. M. LEAY, 
 
 General Agent of the Company, at 
 
 COLON (ASPINWALL.) 
 
COMPACNIE CENERALE 
 
 WITHOUT TRANSHIPMENT BETWEEN THE PORTS OF 
 
 ASPINWALL (COLON) AND ST. NAZAIRE, FRANCE. 
 
 AX SAM A ICAIf :J!A "!O,g 
 
 AND 
 
 THE STEAMERS leave St. Nazaire on the 8th of each 
 month, arrive at Aspinwall on the 28th or 29th of each month, 
 and leave for St. Nazaire on the 1st or 2nd connecting with the 
 steamer from the South which arrives at Panama on the 28th. 
 with the steamer from Central America which arrives on the 
 30th, and with the steamer from California which arrives on the 
 1st. 
 
 Arrival at St, Nazaire on the 23d of each month, after 21 days' 
 
 Passergers bound for the Continent of Europe should take this route, as it 
 not only offers the b* st and cheapest accommodations, but owing to the ramifica 
 tions of the French Railroads, on disembarking at Saint Nazaire every facility is 
 afforded for continuing their journey to their different destinations. 
 
 The Company will grant to Shippers of Produce from the Pacific Coast and 
 the I-thmus, Policies of insurance on advantageous terms. 
 
 The Company will also at a later -date, by arrangements with the railroads of 
 the Continent, undertake the forwarding of Cargo to all commercial towns of 
 Europe, affording all possible facilities to shippers who have no correspondents at 
 St. Nazaire. 
 
 The GENERAL TRANSATLANTIC COMPANY desirous of developing as 
 much as possible the traffic between America and France, bus authorized its Agents 
 in Aspinwall and Panama to arrange rates of freight froin Panama and Aspinwall 
 to St. Nazaire on produce of the Isthmus, and that which is received at, both ports; 
 and issue Through Bills of Lading to Havre, Bordeaux, Holland, Bremen and 
 Hamburg. 
 
 Arrangements have also been made for booking passengers through, and giving 
 Through Bills of Lading for Freight between St. Nazaire and the Pacific ports of 
 Central and South Ameiica, Mexico and California. 
 
 For Freight or Passage, Apply to 
 
 J. B. F. ARRIVET, Agent in Colon, 
 HOURQUET, POYLO & CO., 
 
 CORRESPOXDENTS PANAMA, 
 
 and all the Agents of Steamship Lines in the North and South Pacific. 
 
STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH AUSTRALASIA. 
 
 PANAMA, NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN 
 ROYAL MAIL COMPANY (LIMITED,) 
 
 THE STEAMERS of the above Company arrive at Panama 
 from the Australasian Colonies on the 4th or 5th of each month, 
 and sail from Panama to Wellington, New Zealand, forwarding 
 passengers and merchandise from thence to Sydney, Melbourne, 
 and all the principal ports in New Zealand, including Auckland, 
 Xapier, Nelson, Lyttleton, Dunedin, &c., &c. Special Steamers 
 are appointed to sail to meet the continued influx of emigrants 
 to the newly discovered gold regions of Hokitika. 
 
 An experienced and qualified Surgeon accompanies each 
 Steamer, and in the construction and conduct of the Company's 
 .ships especial care has been observed to secure the comfort of 
 passengers. 
 
 The unvarying punctuality of the Steamers of the Company 
 in forming their several connections on the ten first successive 
 voyages, guarantees safety and rapidity of transit. 
 
 The Company's Steamers arriving from the Colonies on the 4tb 
 or 5th, connect with the following steamers from the Isthmus: 
 For South Pacific sailing on the 10th of each month. 
 
 California 
 Central America 
 New York ' 
 
 Southampton ' 
 Ilavina ' 
 
 9th " month. 
 10th " month. 
 12th or 1 3th of each month. 
 6th or 7th of each month. 
 5th or 6th of each month. 
 
 The following arrivals at the Isthmus of Panama connect 
 with the Steamers for the Colonies on the 24th of each month: 
 
 From South Pacific arriving on the 19th of each month. 
 
 " California " " 22d or 23d of each month. 
 
 " Central America " 15th of each month. 
 
 " New York " " 19th ' month: 
 
 " Southampton " " 22d " month. 
 
 " Havana " ' " month. 
 
 Passengers conveyed to 'he Colonies at fires varying from $280 to $300 first 
 Class, according to distance ai.d accommodation. Second Class fares $150 to f 175. 
 1st ',ias> Passengers allowed 3361bs Baggage. 
 2nd Class Pa-sengers allowed 1681bs Baggage. 
 Children and Servants conveyed at proportionate rates. 
 Return Tickets issued at a reduction of 25 | er cent. 
 
 Kivi-ht from ,*.M) to $70 per ton, according to class and distance of destination. 
 Fu ther information on application to 
 
 W. LANE BOOKER, Agent, San Francisco. 
 CHARLES W. WEST, Agt. New York. 
 WILLIAM G. SEALY, Agt. Panama. 
 
 And to all the Agencies of the Pacific Steain Navigation Co. in the South Pacific; 
 iilso to the Agencies of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company at New York, San 
 Frannsco an>l Panama. 
 
 Panama, April 8, 1867. 
 
UNDER CONTRACT WITH HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT, 
 
 FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF THE MAILS FOR TUP; 
 
 West Indies, Mexico, Central America, North 
 and South Pacific, New Zealand and 
 
 AUSTRALIAN COLONIES. 
 
 THE following: arrangement, for the Mail Service, has been 
 recently sanctioned by Her Britannic Majesty's Government : 
 
 1. The Steamers from Southampton will proceed to Peter Island and 
 Jamaica returning by the j^ame course to Southampton 
 
 2. The windward Steamers will communicate with the outward and home 
 ward Steamers at Peter Isl nd. 
 
 3. The Steamers for Porto Rico, Cuba and Mexico, will communicate with 
 the outward and homeward Steamers !tt 1'oter Island. 
 
 4. The direct Steamers to and from Onion, will communicate monthly with 
 th" outward and homeward Steamers at Peter Island; the other Steamers to find 
 from Colon communicating with tne outwar I and home ward Steamers at Jamaica 
 as heretofore. 
 
 5. There will only be a monthly communication with Jacmel mimcly, 
 hence on the mid'lle of each Tnonth, the return Steamer bunging the Mail Irum 
 Jacmel at the end of each month. 
 
 The Company's steamers leave Southampton on the 2d and 
 17th of each month, and Colon (Aspinwall) on the <>th and 23d 
 of each month. 
 
 On their arrival at Peter Island other steamers belonging 
 to the Company are ready to conve} r Mails, Passengers, &c., to 
 the following named places : St. Kitts, Antigua, Guadeloupe, 
 Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, Barbadoes, Demerara, St. 
 Vincent, Grenada, Trinidad, Tobago, St. ThomaSj Jamaica, Porto 
 Rico, Havana, Vera Cruz and Tampico. 
 
 The Company's steamers to and from Colon (Aspinwall) 
 connect on the Isthmus of Panama with the Australian, South 
 Pacific, California, Japan, China and Central American steamers. 
 
 A monthly service for the conve3 T ance of Mails, Passengers, 
 &c., is also established by the Company's Steamers between 
 Colon, Carthagena and Santa Martha, and between these places 
 and Grey Town, connecting at Colon with the steamers to 
 Southampton and intermediate and branch ports. 
 
 The Steamers leaving Aspinwall on the 6th connect with 
 the Steamers for Havana, New Orleans, Vera Cruz and Tampico. 
 
 Further information may be obtained at the Company's 
 Office, 55, Moorgate street, London, or from C. A. Henderson, 
 Esq., H. B. M.'s Consul, Panama; D. R. Martin, Esq., Agent, 
 Colon, and at the Agencies of connecting Companies. 
 
STEAMERS FROM PANAMA 
 
 TO THE 
 
 SOUTH PACIFIC. 
 
 THE PACIFIC STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY'S 
 
 Magnificent new Steamers leave Panama for South Pacific 
 ports on the following dates, viz : 
 
 1st, 10th or llth, and 25th of 
 
 mm -eying the Mails, Freight and Passengers brought to the 
 
 Isthmus by the 
 
 ROYAL WEST INDIA MAIL COMPANY'S 
 
 Steamers from Southampton and West Indies; 
 
 WEST INDIA & PACIFIC SS. COMPANY'S 
 
 Steamers from Liverpool and West Indies; 
 
 COMPAGHIE GEffERALE TRANSATL ANTIQUE'S 
 
 Steamers from St. Nazaire; 
 
 PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY'S 
 
 Steamers from New York; 
 
 PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY'S 
 
 Steamers from San Francisco, China and Japan; 
 
 Steamers from Central America. 
 
 This Company also despatches a Steamer on the 12th of 
 each month to Guayaquil which touches at the intermediate ports 
 of Buenaventura, Tumaco, Esmeralda and Manta. There is 
 likewise a semi-monthly branch line running between Valparaiso 
 and the Southern ports of Chile as far as Port Montt. 
 
 For further particulars, apply to 
 
 JOHN PR A IN, Agent, Panama. 
 DAVID SIM, Agent, Valparaiso. 
 GEORGE PETR1E, Manager, Callao. 
 Pacific Steam Navigation Company's Office, 
 Callao, 1st April, 1867." 
 
STEAMSHIP CO 
 
 ROYAL WEST INJDIA MAIL, STEAMERS. 
 
 The Steamer* of this line leave Southampton on the 2cl and 17th of each 
 month, arriving at Aspinwall on the 7th or 8th and 22d, nnd connect with the 
 Steamers of the Pacific steam Navigation Company, sailing from Panama for 
 Guayaquil. Callao and Valparaiso on the Oth or luth and 2oth, and with tlie 
 Steamers of the Panama Railroad Company sailing for Cos'ta Itica, Nicaragua, 
 Salvador and Guatemala <m the 10th and 25th. The Steamer arriving at Aspin 
 wall on the 7lh <>i sth, connects with the steamer of the Pacific Mail Steamship 
 Company which sails f om Panama on the 9th for San Francisco, touching at 
 Acapulco and Manzaiii!l<>, Mexico, and the cteamer arriving on the 22d con 
 nects with the New Zealand and Australian Steamer sailing on the 24th. 
 
 A steamer leaves Aspiuwall for Grey town, Nicaragua on the 9th, returning 
 on the 17th, and one for Carthagena and Santa Martha on the 24th returning 
 on the 3rd. 
 
 These steamers le* ve Aspinwall for Southampton via Jamaica and Peter 
 Island on the 5th or 6th and v3rd. The first steamer in each month onlv con 
 nects with the Steamer for Havana, which connects with she Steamer thence 
 to New Orleans. 
 
 PACIFIC STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY. 
 
 The Steamers of this line leave Va-paraii-o on the ?id, 10th and 17th, and 
 Callao on the 14th, 22d and 28th, arriving nt Panama on the morning of the 3rd 
 rr 4th, 2(lth, an-t 29' h. and connect with the Royal "West India Mail Company's 
 Steamers sailing from Aspinwall for Southampton via St. Thomas on the 5th 
 or 6th and 23rd, and with the Steamer of the Compagnie Generale Transatlan- 
 tique sailing from Aspinwall for St. Nazaire on tlie 3lst or 1st. The steamer 
 arriving at Panama on the 3rd or 4th connects with the Steamer leaving St. 
 Thomas for Havana and Vera Cruz on the 14'h, and the Steamers arriving at 
 Panama on the 2()th and 2!)th, connect with f he steamers leaving Aspinwall for 
 New York, on the 1st nnd 23rd; they will also connect with the sUamers 
 leaving Aspinwall fcr L vorpool on the l()th and 25th, and with the Steamer 
 leaving Panama on the 29th for San Francisco touching at Acapulco. 
 
 A Steamer leaves Panama for Bnonaventnra, Guayaquil, Callao and inter 
 mediate ports on the 12th ot each month. 
 
 These Steamers leave Panama for the South Coast on the 1st, 9th or 10th 
 and 25th. 
 
 PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY. 
 
 The Steamers of this line on the Pacific leave San Francisco on the 10th, 
 19th (18th when the month has only 30 days) and 30th, (or on the previous 
 Saturday when these days fall on Sunday,) and arrive at Panama on the 1st, 
 12th or 13th and 22d or 23rd of each mouth, connecting with the steamers 
 of the same Company leaving Asuinwall for Nf-w York on the 1st, i2th or 13th 
 and 23rd. These steamers will connect with the Steamers leaving here for the 
 South Pacific on the 1st. 13th and 25th, with the VV. I. & P. S. S. Go's steamers 
 which sail from Aspinwall for Liverpool on the 10th and 25th. The Steamer 
 arriving on the 23d connects with tlie Royal West India Mail Company's 
 steamer sailing from Aspinwall for Southampton on the s=ime day, and the 
 Steamer arriving on the 1st connects with the French Steamer for St. Nazaire. 
 
 The Atlan ic Steamers of this line will leave New York on the 1st, llth 
 and 21st [or on the -previous Saturday when these days fall on Sunday,] and 
 arrive at Aspinwall on the 9th, 19th and 29th, connecting with the steamers 
 of the same Company leaving Panama for San Francisco, touching at Acapuleo, 
 Mexico, on the 9th, 19th and 29th; the steamer of the 9th touches at Manzanillo 
 also. The steamers arriving at Aspinwall on the 9th and 29th will connect with 
 the Steamers for the South Pacific, which leave Panama on the 1st and 10th. The 
 steamer arriving on the 9th will also connect with the steamer for Central Ame 
 rica which sails from Panama on the 10th. The steamer arriving on the 19th 
 connect with the New Zealand and Australian steamer leaving Panama on the 
 24th. 
 
MANAMA RAILROAD COMPANY'S CENTRAL AMERICAN 
 
 STEAMERS. 
 
 The Steamers of thi> line sail from Sun Jose de Guatemala on the 2()th and 
 5th, touching at ports in Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and arrive at 
 Panama on the 16th and 30th, connecting with the West India and Pacific Steam 
 ship Company's steamers leaving Aspinwall for Liverpool about the same time. 
 The steamer arriving at Panama on the 30th connects with the steamer for Neu' 
 York, which leaves Aspinwall on the 1st, with the steamer of the Compagnie 
 Generate Transatlantique leaving Aspinwall on the 31st or 1st, and with the South 
 Pacific Steamer sailing from Panama on the 1st. 
 
 Passengers from Central America for Europe via the Royal West India Mail 
 Company's steamers will be detained on the Isthmus six days. 
 These steamers sail from Panama on the 10th and 25th. 
 
 WEST INDIA AND PACIFIC STEAMSHIP COMPANY, LIMITED, 
 
 The steamers of this line sail from Aspinwall via Jamaica for Liverpool on the 
 10th and 25th, arriving at Liverpool on the 12th and 27th, and convey freight and 
 passengers to England brought by the steamers from the South Pacific, Central 
 Ameiica, California and Australia. 
 
 COMPAGNIE GENERATE TRANSATLANTIQUE, 
 
 The steamers of this line leave St. Nazaire, France, on the 8th of each month, 
 arriving at Aspinwall on the 28th or 29th, and connect with the South L'acifie 
 steamer sailing on the 1st, and the North Pacific steamers, {for San Francisco, 
 Acapulco, &c.] sailing on the 31st or 1st of each month, touching at Santa Martha 
 and Martinique, and take passengers and merchandize from the South Pacific- 
 steamer arriving at Panama on the 29th; the Panama Railroad Company's Cen 
 tral American steamer arriving at Panama on the 30th, and the North Pacific 
 {San Francisco and Acapulco] steamer arriving on the 31st. 
 
 THE PANAMA, NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN MAIL 
 COMPANY'S STEAMERS. 
 
 The Panama, New Zealand and Australia Company's steamers arrive at 
 Panama on the 4th or 5th of each month, connecting with the Royal West India 
 Mail Company's steamers sailing for Southampton on the 5th or 6th. 
 
 These steamers sail hence for Wellington on the 24th, taking passengers 
 arriving from the South Pacific on the 20th, from New York on the 19th, from Ca 
 lifornia on the 23d, and from England on the 22d, 
 
 THE SPANISH MAIL PACKET COMPANY IN THE 
 ANTILLES AND GULF OF MEXICO. 
 
 The steamer Moctezuma leaves Havana on the 22d of each month, and arrives 
 at Aspinwall on the 4th, touching at Nuevitas, Gibara, Santiago de Cuba, Jamaica, 
 Santa Martha and Carthagena. Leaves Aspinwall on the 5th or 6th and arrives 
 at Havana on the 17th, touching at Jamaica, Santiago de Cuba, Baracoa, Gibara 
 and Nuevitas. 
 
ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 1849, 
 
 THIS Journal is the oldest, m<xst influential ami widely 
 circulated Newspaper on the Pacific Coast, and is unequalled in 
 the advantages it offers as an advertising: medium throughout 
 Central and South America. 
 
 are issued for every mail leaving the Isthmus, which contain a 
 full Summary of News, Market and Shipping Reports from 
 Europe, the United States, California, Mexico, Australia, and the 
 different Central and South American Republics, &c. 
 
 A large Job Office is attached to the Establishment, where 
 all kinds of plain and fancy printing are executed on moderate 
 terms and with despatch. 
 
 A GOOD ASSORTMENT OF COMMERCIAL STATIONERY 
 
 ALWAYS ON HAND. 
 
 All orders sent to us through our Agents or the Pursers of 
 any of the Steamers connecting with the Isthmus, promptly 
 attended to. 
 
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PACIFIC NAVAL STORE. 
 
 WILLIAM DE ROUX, !!U 
 
 Cflnnissifln Merchant anil Fonaralng Apt. 
 
 IPTJIR/VEYOIR, 
 
 , PfJISKSHI & SPABMSHI NAVDES, 
 IMPORTER OF ENGLISH, FRENCH & AMERICAN DRY GOODS, 
 PROVISIONS, WINES AND LIQUORS, 
 
 AGENT FOR THE IMPERIAL, FIRE INSURANCE 
 COMPANY OF LONDON. 
 
 SOLE AGENT FOR MEDLEY & SOWS LIVERPOOL SOAF, 
 
 AND FOR 
 
 ALLSOP'S PALE ALE AND STOUT, BOTTLED BY F. FRIEND & CO. 
 
 S SUJDS 031 
 
 OF PJBL0BTCfC2B. 
 
 WILLIAM DE ROUX, 
 
 Corresponding Agent of the Union Bank of 
 
 London, London Joint Stock Bank, 
 
 City Bank of London and Asiatic 
 
 Banking Corporation. 
 
HAVANA CIGAR DEPOT, 
 
 AND 
 
 PANAMA, U.S.C., 
 
 Has always on hand, at moderate prices, a fine assortment of 
 
 BEST HAVANA CIGARS, 
 
 &W2D CffliafiWra TOBACCO, 
 
 imported direct. 
 
 MATS ON BEAT VARSITY, 
 
 Chinese and Japanese Ware of every description ; Silver 
 Card Cases, Fans, Arc., 
 
 L 
 
 , 
 
 H 
 
 of all kinds, and a large assortment of articles too numerous to mention. 
 Passengers will find this Store just the place to visit to buy nic-nacks & curiosities. 
 
 CATHEDRAL SQUARE, 
 
 PANAMA, U. S* C. 
 
 THIS MAGNIFICENT ESTABLISHMENT which was 
 opened on the 1st of March, is acknowledged to be unequalled 
 in elegance and comfort in South America. It has been con 
 structed under the direct superintendence of the Proprietor, in 
 the most approved style, and is fitted up with the best French 
 furniture. 
 
 The location is the finest in Panama, commanding an ex 
 tensive view of the Bay, and fronting on the Square. The 
 rooms are large, well ventilated, and admirably adapted for a 
 tropical climate ; and each landing is plentifully supplied with 
 Baths, Water Closets, &c. 
 
 The BAR, BILLIARD SALOONS, DINING HALLS and 
 RECEPTION ROOMS are elegantly fitted up; the Table is sup 
 plied with every luxury, and the Bar with the best WINES and 
 LIQUORS, imported direct from France by the Proprietor. 
 
 ICE CREAMS EVERY EVENING, 
 
 SAXStV 9 D3L XAB13S. 
 
 GEORGE LOEW, 
 
 Proprietor. 
 
A1 
 
 5 
 
 ASPINWALL AND PANAMA, 
 
 IMPORTERS OF 
 
 S H I P S' STORES, 
 
 LARD, PRESERVED MEATS, 
 
 FKUITS, CEACKEES, LUMBEE, 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Passengers supplied with Stores on moderate term'*. 
 
 S. W. D. JACKSON, Agent, 
 
 Aspimvall and Panama. 
 
 SUCCESSORS TO 
 
 W. B. JOHNSON, 
 
 IMPORTERS AND DEALERS IN 
 
 fines, Lii 
 
 J ) 
 
 Havana 
 
 HAVE ALWAYS OX HAND, OF CHOICE BRANDS, 
 
 OTARD, DUPUY & CO. & HENNESSY BRANDY, 
 
 , 
 
 WHISEKT, 
 
 SHERRY, CLARETS, SAUTERNES, 
 
 WIDOW CLIQUOT CHAMPAGN , BARCLAY, PERKINS & GO'S PORTER, 
 KUGENE CLIQUOT " MOSELLE WINES & HOCK, 
 
 CHARLES HEIDSIECK, " CONGRESS WATER, BAY RUM, 
 
 CABINET, GREEN SEAL " IND, COOPE & GO'S BURTON ALE, 
 
 DRAUGHT & BOTTLED. 
 
 Depot of the Celebrated Angostura Bitters, and West India Hot Sauce. 
 
J. W. MATHY & CO., 
 MERCHANT TAILORS, 
 
 nil'OHTKUS OF 
 
 BOOTS, SHOES, HATS, SHIETS, &c, &c, 
 
 I NDKR THE ASPIX\\ ALL HOTEL 
 
 N. BRANDON * CO., 
 
 ( CONTRACTORS FOR THE U. S. NAVY, 
 
 IMPORTERS OF ENGLISH, FRENCH & GERMAN 
 DRY GOODS, AND CLOTHING, 
 
 CH \.Mi ) A(JXE AND OTPIER WTNES OF THE 
 
 CH()!( 1 EST BRANDS; ENGLISH ALE. AND THE GENUINE 
 
 ^NGS-TJSTTJIR^ BITTEIEIS- 
 
 DRAFTS 0^ THE FNITED STATES AND EUROPE BOUGHT AND SOLD. 
 

 
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