A relation of the ports, harbors, forts and cities in the
west Indies which have bene surveied, edified, finished,
made and mended, with those which have bene builded,
in a certaine survey by the king of Spaine his direction
and commandement: Written by Baptista Antonio, surveyour in those parts for the said King. Anno 1587.
Santa Marta.
FIRST Santa Marta the principall Citie of the Bishopricke
or Dioces of the coast of Tierra firma, or the firme land,
lieth in 10. degrees and 1/2, the city being situated upon a
sandy bay adjoyning unto the sea side, conteineth in it
about 30. housholds; all the houses being made of canes,
and covered over with Palmito trees, and some of them be
covered with tyle.
They have traffike with none, but with the Indians of
the said country, which doe bring unto the Citie for to
sell earthen Pots and Pipkins, and Coverlits of Cotton
wooll, and great earthen Jarres. Also they doe traffique
to Cartagena
. It is a countrey which hath but small store
of cattel, because it is all mountainous, and hath small
store of people. There is a very good harbour before the
said towne, invironed with mighty hils & great rocks,
which reach even unto the sea side, the which hie land
doth greatly succour the harbour, as also two Ilands which
lie about 3/4 of a league on the North side: so that although
they be subject to Easterly winds, and that with great
stormes, yet they doe no great harme to goe on land.
Within this Harbour there is a place which is called La
Caldera, where in times past they were woont to trimme
and carene their Shippes. As touching the Harbour,
there is no cause to fortifie it, nor to make any account
of it, by reason there is no trade nor traffique to this place
from any other places, according as I have certified your
Majestic thereof. And also because here are but few
dwellers or inhabitants, and loosing every day so many
as it doeth, by reason that it is every day robbed and
spoyled by the enemie. But if your Majestie would command that the fleete of Nova Hispania might direct their
course to this Harbour being in their way, and here to
water and refresh themselves, all the Pilots doe say that
the Fleete may proceede on their Voyage from this place,
still going before the winde, and so goe to the
Cape of
Saint Anthony which lieth on the
Iland of Cuba, and from
thence goe their direct course to Nova Hispania; and by
this meanes the Fleete should have no occasion to passe
so many dangers as they doe, by reason of the Huricanos
or stormy windes which many times do come upon them,
when they are upon the coast of Hispaniola: and this is
the cause that there are so many ships cast away, as your
Majestie doeth well know.
And as concerning this course according as I have
certified your Majestie, they shall come into no danger at
all, nor shall make any further way about; so by this
meanes both the Fleetes may come from Spaine in company, and then come to S. Marta, and the Fleete of Nova
Hispania may come into this Harbour, and the Fleete
which doeth goe unto the firme land, may goe directly to
Cartagena
as they doe. Then your Majestie may send to
fortifie the said Harbour, and the fortification must be
thus: That on the morro or mount which is in the entring
in of the said harbour, there be built a litle Fort, and so
to plant some small quantitie of ordinance. And hard by
on the South side, there to build a litle Towre, and
another Sconce, where wee may plant some more ordinance. So by this meanes not onely the Shippes may ride
heere in securitie, but also it will bee a defence for those
which dwell heere in the Towne: and the better to effect
this purpose, there is hard by the Towne great store
of Lyme, Stone
, Sande, and Tymber, if occasion should
serve.
Cartagena
.
CARTAGENA
is a Citie, and the principall place of the
Bishopricke; it lyeth fourtie leagues from Santa Marta:
it standeth in scant 11. degrees. The sayd Citie is
situated upon a sandy banke or bay like unto an Iland:
it hath about 450. dwellers therein. There are very faire
buildings therein: as concerning their houses, they are
made of stone, and there are three Monasteries, of which
two of them are of Friers which are within the city, the
one called Santo Domingo, and the other called Santo
Augustin, and the other which is called Saint Francis,
which standeth without the citie about 30. paces off.
And for to goe unto the said Frierie, you must goe upon
a Causey
made of stone, and water on both sides. This
citie hath great trade out of Spaine, and out of The new
kingdome of Granada
, and out of the Ilands there adjoyning, from Peru
, and from all the coast of this firme land,
and of the fishing of the pearles of Rio de la Hacha, and
of Margarita: it is a very sound countrey.
This Citie hath a very good Harbour, and sufficient to
receive great store of Ships: this said Harbour hath two
entrances in, the one of them lyeth halfe a league from
the Citie, where all the Ships doe enter into the sayd
Harbour: the mouth or entring in of the sayde Harbour
is 1400. yardes or paces in bredth, and very deepe water.
The other entring in which is called La boca chica, or litle
mouth, lieth a league beyond this place to the westwards.
It is 900. yards in bredth, and in the entring in thereof
there lieth a channel in the midst of it, which is 200.
yards broad, and 20. or 15. fadome water, some places
more, some lesse. And to enter into the Harbour you
must go through this channel, and the land doth double
in and out. And at the entring in of the sayde Harbour,
after you have past this Channell, you must beare up to
the shoareward neere unto the
Iland of Cares, and looke
how much is overplus more than the two hundred yardes
of the Channell, all the rest are certaine ledges of Rockes,
covered with two or three foote water upon the toppe of
them, some places more, and some lesse. So the ships
which must enter in at the mouth, must bring very good
Pilots with them, which must be very skilfull: yet all
this will not serve, but they must carry their Boate before,
and sound with their Lead to know where the best place
of the Channell lyeth for them to goe in, so it will be
small hinderance to any shippe that shall enter, neither
yet danger at all of sinking.
There are three places about the sayde Citie, where the
Enemie may give an attempt by Land. The one of them
is where the enemie did enter in and landed, which is a
sandy Bay, and on the other side of the Bay is the Sea,
and on the other side a great Lake which goeth towards
the Harbour. The sandy bay or banke, on the one side
is 500. yardes broad, all sandy ground without any trees.
So that the enemie which giveth the assault in this place
must bee constrayned to march all alongst this sandie
Bay, the enemie lying open these 500. yardes, which
reach untill you doe come to the trench: And on the
backside other 500. yardes, till you doe come unto the
Citie.
The sayde sandie bay or banke is 130. yardes broad,
where the trench is builded. And in this place this Citie
hath bene taken by the enemie twise. Wherefore heere
wee have driven in a great many of woodden stakes, which
goe downe into the sea 50. yardes deepe: and this wee
have done, because this is a very dangerous and filthy
coast. And below in the bottom of the Valley there we
have builded a little Sconce, where we may plant 3. or 4.
peeces of ordinance. And likewise wee have made a
deepe ditch, which doeth answere to both parts of the sea;
so on this side the Citie is very strong and sufficient.
For this was the place whereof the Citizens were most
afrayde.
The other entring is lower downe by the sayde sandy
Bay, which is called Cienaga
, or The fenne del Roreado.
This is another place which is on the sayd sandy bay,
which is 300. yardes broad from the one place downe to
the sea. And on the other side there lyeth the Cienaga
,
which is a certaine plat of ground that is overflowen with
water all the yeere long. So that the enemie which shall
come this way to winne the Citie, must come marching
over land a good way upon a sandie banke or Bay, where
the Sea lyeth on the one side, and a grove or boske of
wood on the other side, and through a plat of ground
which is overflowen with water, but not all covered. So
in this place wee have made a Fort or Sconce with certaine
Flanckers belonging therunto. And I have caused a
deepe ditch to be digged of 60. foote in bredth, so that
the Sea doeth come to that plat or place which is overflowen. And in this order we have stopt this passage,
so that the Citie standeth in maner like unto an Iland.
There is 2600. yardes distance from this place to the
other trench where the enemie Francis Drake did land
last.
The entring in of this Harbour is by the bridge and
Causey
which doeth goe from the Citie to S. Francis;
the sayd Causey
is 300. yardes in length, and 12. yardes
in bredth: and the water is on both the sides of the saide
Causey
: so this is the strongest place of all the rest of
the three places. Also in this place there is order taken
to make a draw bridge, and upon the top of the said
bridge to build a platforme, and plant ordinance upon it:
and on both sides of the bridge there are certaine trenches
made, where our men may be close kept.
At the point of this land called ycacos, which is in the
entring in of the harbour towards S. Anna, we have made
a Fort of timber fouresquare of 300. foote every way, and
trencht, where wee may plant 15. or 16. peeces of ordinance, and keepe 50. men in garison, and behinde the
bourdes on the backside of the timbers, a Barricado of
earth or mudde wall being foure foote in thicknesse, and
behinde the mud-wall, sand: so this Fort will bee of
great importance for safegard of this Harbour, because
all the Shippes which doe enter into this Harbour doe
come close to this place where it is strongest, so that
sometimes one may cast a stone into the ships when they
are comming in: and when any ship of warre or Pirate
will give any attempt to enter into this Harbour, there is
order given that the two galleys shall go forth, and put
themselves behinde the Fort with their prows to the sea,
and so shooting at their enemies in the forepart of the
ship, and then the Fort answering likewise with their
ordinance at the side of the shippe, and at their tackling,
so the enemie being in the Harbour all unrigged, they
must of necessitie be constrained to lye hovering within
the Harbour, or els they must drive upon the rockes
called the Ismo, or els upon those rocks which are covered
with the sea at the
Iland of Cares.
And put case that in this place we can doe no good by
this meanes, and that the enemie will venture to come
in with their long boates & Pinnesses through this narrow
mouth; then we are to have in a readinesse 4. Frigats
to ayde and helpe the gallies, & to row with oares, and
so to go to the narrow mouth, and there to stay in the
channell. And forasmuch as the entring in is so dangerous, according as I have certified your Majestie, there
can no ship come into this harbour, but we must needes
sinke them; so that these defences shall not onely bee
annoyance to the enemie, but also animate and encourage
the inhabitants of this citie : for they have beene and are
in such feare of the enemie, and pirates, that if wee had
not made these fortifications, strengthened the citie in this
order, and put some souldiers in garison, the citizens
would have fledde, and forsaken this citie: for all the
perswasions made to them by the governour coulde not
perswade them to the contrary, but they would bee gone,
if it had not beene for this fortification, and yet for all this
wee have much to doe to make them to stay here: so nowe
by reason of these souldiers which shall come hither, the
people of the citie have taken heart of grasse : so I have
tolde them that your majestie will command that this
citie and the harbour shall be better fortified and
made stronger, and all this which I have caused to be
builded, is with that money which I have borowed of the
citizens.
As touching the safegard and defence of this harbour,
if your majestie so please, here may we builde a very
faire and strong castle with foure bulwarks, on the poynt
of the Ycacos which doth lie on the side where the citie
is builded, because all the shippes which doe come to this
harbour, must come close abord this shore, so neere, that
wee may cast a stone into them, and so overtake any
ship. So likewise if the shippes will goe on the other
shore, then they doe goe in greater danger, because of
those shoalds and ledges of rockes, and so are often cast
away. And forasmuch as those ships which here doe
arrive are brought hither by Easterly winds, and sometimes with those winds which come out from the sea,
and therefore perforce must give a good birth off, otherwise they cannot enter into this harbour, therefore of
necessity they must come so close to the shore: And on
the other side where the
Island of Cares standeth, there
may wee builde another tower foure-square, and plant
some foure or five pieces of ordinance, and this will serve
for the night, if occasion be offered that any small shippe
or barke should come in here, or any pinnesse in the
night, to doe any harme, or to attempt to burne any
Fleete which shoulde ride here at an anker within this
harbour: so the fort beeing on the one side, and the
tower on the other side, keeping good watch, there can no
shippe nor barke come into this harbour, but they will
bee espied.
In the narrow mouth at the entring in the other way
towardes the
Island of Cares, where the channell doth
runne neere the shore, as I have already certified your
majestie, there may another castle be made, and there
foure or five pieces of ordinance planted, and some sixe
or eight men to keepe watch and ward: this being done,
your majestie shall have this citie very well fortified, by
reason it is of such importance for the service of your
majestie, and the trade of all Spaine and Peru
, and all the
Indies: for this is the principall fort of all this countrey.
Over against this point of the Ycacos, in the
Isle of
Cares, hard by the water side, there are great store of
stones, free stones, and other stones to make lyme, and
wood to burne the stones withall for the lyme, and great
part of the stones doe lie about the water: so the wood
will cost but the cutting of it downe, and the working
of it, and with little paines taking it will bee brought to
good perfection, for wee have already made triall thereof,
for there was never building that went to decay after it
hath bene made, nor perished by the sea: so the charge
hereof will be but litle or nothing.
And for to put this in practise to build a fort, it is
needefull that your majestie should send hither and to
many other places, where any fort shall bee made, some
store of Negros, and to this place would be sent 150
Negros brought from Guyney: and if the Negros of
Havana are not to bee imployed there, nor those which
are in Sant Juan de Ullua, it may please your majestie
to cause them to bee sent for to this place, for most of
them be artificers, some masons, bricklayers, smithes and
sawyers, and to send some masons from Spaine to teach
our men these occupations. And after these fortifications
are ended and all furnished, then the Negros may be solde
to great profit, for a Negro
that is of any occupation is
sold here for 600. and 700. pezos.
Nombre de Dios.
NOMBRE de Dios is builded upon a sandy Bay hard by the
sea side, it is a citie of some thirtie housholdes or inhabitants: their houses are builded of timber, and most of the
people which are there be forreiners, they are there to day
and gone to morrow: it is full of woods and some places
of the land are overflowen with water continually by
reason of much raine which doth fall upon the hils. It is
a very bad harbour, neither is there any good water: and
it is subject to Northerly winds and Easterly windes, which
continually doe blow upon this coast: many of the great
ships which doe come to this place doe unlade halfe their
commodities betweene the two ledges of rockes, for that
there is but little water in the harbour: and after that a
ship hath unladen halfe of her goods, then shee goeth to
the second rocke, as it doth appeare by the platforme,
but the small ships come neere unto another rocke on the
West side. If the winde chance to come to the North and
Northwest, and that it overblowe, then such great ships as
then be in the roade must of force more themselves with
sixe cables a head, especially in a storme, and yet nevertheless sometimes they are driven ashore and so cast
away, and all because they dare not vier cable ynough,
because of so many shelves and rockes which are in both
those places: also the shippes doe roule very much in
the harbour, by reason in foule weather the Sea will bee
mightily growen, which is the cause that their cables do
oftentimes breake, and their ruthers are unhanged, the
cause thereof is by reason the shippes doe ride but in little
water, yet goeth there a great sea.
The citie is builded and situated very well if it were a
good harbour, it standeth upon the Eastside upon a rocke
where they may builde a very good fort, according to the
platforme for the safegard of this harbour: but seeing it
is but a bad haven and shallow water, therefore I doe
thinke that it is not needefull for your majestie to be at
any charges in fortifying that place, but onely a trench to
be made of earth or clay, so that these townesmen may
defend themselves from danger of 3. or 4. ships.
The citie of Panama is eighteene leagues from Nombre
de Dios, the wayes are exceeding bad thitherwards; yet
notwithstanding all the silver is brought this way to
Nombre de Dios, as well your majesties treasure as other
marchandize; so likewise the most part of those commodities which are caried to Peru
, and the rest of the
marchandize are carried to the river of Chagre which is
some 18 leagues from this citie and it is brought up by
this river within five leagues of Panama unto an Inne or
lodge called Venta de Cruzes, and from this place afterwards they are transported to Panama upon Mules. The
high way which goeth from Nombre de Dios to Panama
may be very wel mended, only to remoove this way and
to stop it quite up, and so to make it againe upon the side
of a mountaine. This citie lieth in nine degrees and one
tierce, and if your majestie will give order that this citie
should be plucked downe and newly builded againe in
Puerto Bello, then you are to make a new way through
the mountains of Capira, by reason it may not be frequented and because the high wayes are very bad: with
little charges they may be broken and so shut up, and the
channell of this harbour may bee stopt with the timber of
those old ships which are laid up here every yeere, and
then afterwards may be cast a great number of stones into
the same, and so by this meanes to damme up the harbour: and here is great want of stones to ballast the
shippes : wherefore they are faine to goe to an Iland three
leagues from Cartagena
called Isla
de los Bastimentos,
and this is a thing very needefull for this Countrey, as by
experience I have seene.
Puerto Bello.
PUERTO Bello lieth five leagues from Nombre de Dios
Westward: It is a very good harbour and sufficient to
receive great store of ships, and hath very good ankering,
and fresh water: for neere the shore you shall find some
sixe fathome water, and in the middest of the same harbour you shall find twelve fathome, very good and cleane
ground or sand, without eyther banks or rockes. There
are twelve small rivers or brookes of water which doe
belong to this harbour, and so doe meete all together:
so that the fleete may at all times provide themselves of
fresh water so much as shall serve their turnes. And
like wise there is in this place great store of timber
to build shippes, and stones to ballast shippes. Also the
harbour hath no danger at all in comming in, but onely
when the wind is Westerly, which is seldome seene upon
this coast. The windes which doe most blowe upon this
coast are Northerly windes, and they are more dangerous
and hurtfull then the Easterly windes are. Within this
harbour there lieth a small creeke safe from all winds that
can blow. This creek is about five hundred yards long,
and so many in breadth, and in the entring in of this
creekes mouth it is some 300. yardes broad, and foure
fathome and a halfe of water: and entring further in,
sixe fathome, all oaze and muddie ground: so that if a
ship should chance to strike or come aground, shee could
take no harme being soft oaze; also it doth ebbe and flow
according as I have certified your majestie already.
And likewise the comming in and going out of this
harbour is very good; and with all kinde of weather a
shippe may set saile from this place except with a
Westerly wind: and all this coast is very cleane where
a shippe at all times may come to anker without the
harbours mouth. This harbour is invironed round about
with woods: and at the ende of this harbour there is
certaine land which is overflowen with water: it may bee
easily dryed up and walled round about, so this land will
serve very well to feede cattell. For that is the chiefest
thing which doth belong to any citie or towne, and of this
pasture ground there is great want in Nombre de Dios,
for there is no pasture at all to breede cattell, for all kinde
of flesh which is spent in this place is brought from
Panama: so towards the South there is a very good place,
where the citie may bee newe built on a certaine plaine
ground which lieth at the foot of certaine mountaines,
which bee not very high; and in this place there runne
three little rivers of fresh water very sweete and good,
and here is good arable ground to till and to sow Maiz
and other kinds of graine. Also in this circuite there are
great stones to make lyme, and these stones must needes
proove very good as I doe thinke, but we never had any
triall thereof.
This harbour hath all things necessary to builde a citie,
where your majestic may have your armies and fleetes of
shippes to ride at an anker in safetie without danger of
loosing: and it is a very healthful countrey, and where the
citie shall be builded it is all stony ground: and forasmuch
as the raine water which doth fall from the mountaines
may doe hurt unto the citie, there at the foote of the
mountaine wee will make a great pond to receive in all the
water which doth fall from the mountaines, and so from
thence to goe into the sea, as more at large your majestic
may see by my platforme.
If it would please your majestie, it were good that the
citie of Nombre de Dios might bee brought and builded
in this harbour: it would not bee very chargeable unto
the citizens by reason that all their houses are made of
timber, and they may benefite themselves with the same
againe, and likewise with the tyles of their houses: the
greatest charge will bee to land timber and to cut downe
the mountaine of wood.
If it please your majestie that the sayd citie of Nombre
de Dios should bee builded in this harbour the first thing
which must be finished is to make up this high way, and
so to pull downe the Church which is in Nombre de Dios,
and the Contractation house, and so newe build it in this
harbour: and then to command all the fleetes of shippes
from time to time to come and unlade their goods in this
sayd Puerto Bello: And that those marchants and factors
of Spaine which are lygers in Panama and Nombre de
Dios, shall come to this harbour and builde anew their
warehouses for receiving of their goods. So by these
meanes in short time it will be greatly inhabited with
people: also the fleete shall not passe so many dangers
as they dayly doe in Nombre de Dios: neither will there
so many people die as there dayly doe in Nombre de
Dios: and the cause thereof is, that those labouring men
which doe use to unlade those marchandize, are all the
whole day wading in the water up to the armepits to
bring the packs of cloth and other commodities aland;
for there is no landing place where there can come any
boates to land any goods close to the shore, so this
wading and the parching of the Sunne is the cause why
so many doe dye of a burning fever. There are but 60.
dwelling houses in Nombre de Dios, and but thirtie
dwellers which doe continually dwell there, and the rest
doe goe to Panama after the fleete is gone, and then this
Towne doeth remayne desolate, every man forsaking it
because it is so full of diseases.
In the entring in of this harbour for the more securitie
thereof and defence of the towne it is needefull to build
upon the toppe of the mount which lyeth to the Northward, a little fort fouresquare that will hold foure or five
pieces of ordinance, and to appoynt sixe men to watch
and ward; and this beeing done wee shall have no occasion to make any more defence, by reason the countrey
is full of rocks and filthy wayes, and all full of woods
round about the harbour.
And so likewise on the other side to builde a little tower
in maner of a fort, with eight pieces of ordinance and
five and twentie souldiers to keepe it. And this will bee
of more importance because it must be builded on the
towne side. And a little beyond this place on the Northside there lyeth a creeke, where there is a very good
ankering in eight fathome water: so this fort beeing
builded in this place it will defend the harbour and offend
the enemy: and will defend the coast along and a poynt
of the land which doth runne from the East to the West,
and reacheth to the
Iland of Buena Ventura. And put
case that the fort which is builded on the other side doth
decay, or be taken by the enemy, with this other fort wee
may defend the citie very well, if the enemy should chance
to come into the harbour, and bee succoured and holpen
by the citizens, and twenty musketters being planted upon
a mount which lieth over the fort, will bee sufficient to
defende us from a good many of our enemies, that shoulde
come to assault us, because all the countrey is full of
rockes and stones, and full of mountaines. So from this
wood there may a way be made to goe to the citie, and to
joyne with that way which shall goe to Panama; and this
may bee done with small charges. This harbour doth lie
in nine degrees and one tierce, and if occasion shoulde
serve wee may stop up the way which doth goe to Capira,
and the rest of the wayes which goe from Nombre de
Dios to Venta de Cruzes, according as it is certified me by
the Negros called Simerons; for they told me that this
way would not bee very troublesome. Although in the
Winter it is reported that here is good store of water in
this place, which in the Sommer is all dryed up, and
where these waters are, there we may builde a causey, to
which purpose there are great quantities of stones and
timber very serviceable: so this way may bee made with
that treasure which your majestie doeth receive of the
averages and customes of Nombre de Dios and Panama,
which doth amount unto twelve or foureteene thousand
pezos yeerely : and an order might be taken for the same,
that the sayd money may serve for the building and
reparing of these wayes.
Panama.
PANAMA is the principall citie of this Dioces: it lieth
18. leagues from Nombre de Dios on the
South sea, and
standeth in 9. degrees. There are 3. Monasteries in this
said city of fryers, the one is of Dominicks, the other is
of Augustines, and the third is of S. Francis fryers : also
there is a College of Jesuits, and the royall audience or
chancery is kept in this citie.
This citie is situated hard by the sea side on a sandy
bay: the one side of this citie is environed with the sea,
and on the other side it is enclosed with an arme of the
sea which runneth up into the land 1000. yards.
This citie hath three hundred and fiftie houses, all
built of timber, and there are sixe hundred dwellers and
eight hundred souldiers with the townesmen, and foure
hundred Negros of Guyney, and some of them are freemen: and there is another towne which is called Santa
Cruz la Real of Negros Simerons, and most of them are
imployed in your majesties service, and they are 100. in
number, and this towne is a league from this citie upon a
great rivers side, which is a league from the sea right
over against the harbour of Pericos. But there is no
trust nor confidence in any of these Negros, and therefore
we must take heede and beware of them, for they are our
mortall enemies.
There are three sundry wayes to come to this citie,
besides the sea, where the enemy may assault us. The
one is at the bridge which is builded upon the river: and
on the one side of this, there lieth a creeke : so on this
side the citie is very strong, because it is all soft muddie
ground, for in no way they cannot goe upon it. And
right over against it there lyeth a river which is in maner
like unto a ditch or moate; and on the other side of the
River there lyeth a great Lake or Pond which is full of
water all the Winter, and part of the Sommer, so that on
this side the city is very strong, for with very small store
of souldiers this place might bee kept verie well.
The greatest danger for the surprising of this citie is
the way that doth come from Nombre de Dios : for all this
way is playne ground and no woods: and 2000 yardes
from this citie there lyeth a river called Lavanderas, where
the women doe use to wash their linnen: and this river
doth goe into the creeke, according as I have certified
your majestie: and being once past this river, there is a
causey which goeth directly unto them. The other way
which doth go towards the citie is lower downe towards
the sea at a stone bridge lying upon the way which
goeth to the harbour of Perico. These two wayes cannot
be kept nor resisted, because it is all plaine ground and
medowes.
Upon the East side of this citie there are your majesties
royall houses builded upon a rocke joyning hard to the
Sea side, and they doe aswell leane towards the sea as the
land. The royall audience or chancerie is kept here in
these houses, and likewise the prison. And in this place
all your majesties treasure is kept. There dwelleth in
these houses your majesties Treasurer, the Lord President, and 3. Judges, and master Atturney. All these doe
dwell in these houses, and the rest of your majesties
officers : which are sixe houses besides those of the Lord
President, the which are all dwelling houses, and all
adjoyning together one by another along upon the rockes.
And they are builded all of timber and bourdes, as the
other houses are. So where the prison standeth and the
great hall, these two places may bee very well fortified,
because they serve so fitly for the purpose, by reason they
are builded towardes the sea, and that there lye certaine
small rocks, which at a lowe water are all discovered and
drie, and some of them are seene at a high water. Right
over these houses to the Eastwardes there lyeth an Island
about five hundred yardes from these houses, and the
Island is in forme of a halfe moone; and in this order it
runneth all alongst very neere the maine land: so over
against these houses there lyeth the harbour where all the
shippes doe use to ride at an anker, after that they have
discharged and unladen their marchandize. For when
they have their lading aboord, there can come in none
but small Barkes, and at a lowe water the shippes are all
aground and drie, and so is all the space some thirtie
yardes from those houses. Right over against them
standeth the citie.
When newes were brought to this citie of those Pirates
which were come upon this coast, the Lord President and
Judges commanded that there should a sconce bee made,
and trenched round about, made all of timber for the
defence of this citie against the enemie, and to keepe your
majesties treasure. So your officers caused Venta de
Cruzes to be fortified, and likewise Chagre, and Quebrada,
and fortified the garrison of Ballano: for all these are
places where the enemy may land, and by this meanes
spoyle all this countrey.
There are three sundry places where this citie may
without difficulty be taken, and spoyled by the Pirates.
The first is on the North seas in a certaine place which
lyeth foureteene leagues from Nombre de Dios, the place
is called Aele to the Eastwards, where once before certaine
men of warre have entred into those seas. The other
place is Nombre de Dios, although this is a bad place and
naughtie wayes, and full of waters and a very dirtie way:
for three partes of the yeere the countrey people doe
travell upon those waters, and an other very badde way,
which is the going up of certaine rockes and mountaines
which they must climbe, called the mountaines of Capira,
which are of height three quarters of a league, so in this
place with very small store of souldiers wee can defend
our selves from the fury of the enemie, so these dwellers
doe say that in Sommer the wayes are very good without
either dirt or water.
The other entrance is up the river of Chagre, which
rivers mouth lyeth eighteene leagues from Nombre de
Dios to the Westwards falling into the North sea
, and
this is the place which the citizens of Panama doe most
feare, for they may come up this river to Venta de Cruzes,
and so from thence march to this citie, which is but five
leagues off. So up this river there goe boates and barkes
which doe carry. 320. Quintals waight. These are they
which carry the most part of the marchandize which doe
come from Spaine to be transported to Peru
, and from
Venta de Cruzes it is carried to Limaret which is three
leagues off that place, and the dwellers doe report that it
is a very good way: and if any men of warre will attempt
to come into these seas, they may very easily come up this
river as farre as Venta de Cruzes, and from thence march
unto this citie, and if the enemy will, they may bring their
pinnesses ready made in foure quarters, and so taken in
sunder, may afterwards set them together againe: as it is
reported that Francis Drake hath used it once before when
he came that voyage; and so he may attempt us both by
sea and land. And forasmuch as the most part of these
people are marchants, they will not fight, but onely keepe
their owne persons in safetie, and save their goods; as
it hath bene sene heretofore in other places of these
Indies.
So if it will please your majesty to cause these houses
to bee strongly fortified, considering it standeth in a very
good place if any sudden alarms shoulde happen, then the
citizens with their goods may get themselves to this place,
and so escape the terrour of the enemy: and so this will
be a good securitie for all the treasure which doth come
from Peru
. So all the Pirats and rebels, which have
robbed in these parts, have gone about what they can to
stoppe this passage, and so by this meanes to stoppe the
trade of Spaine, and to set souldiers in this place, for to
intercept and take your majesties treasure, whereby none
might be caried intoSpaine. Therefore it behooveth your
majestic to fortifie these places very strongly.
These places being fortified in this maner, your majesty
shal have al your gold and silver brought home in safetie
which commeth from Peru
. And all those commodities
which are laden in
Spaine may come safe to this place.
And if perchance any rebels should rise in these parts,
which would rebel against your majesty, which God forbid, & if they should chance to joyn with any of these
pirats, having this place so wel fortified, & Puerto Bello
in ye North parts, & so to send some garrison your
majestie needs not to feare: for here in this harbor are
alwayes 10 or 12 barks of 60 or 50 tunnes apiece, which do
belong to this harbor. So if any of these places shalbe
intercepted, then your majestie hath no other place fitter
then this to land your majesties souldiers, for then they
have but 18. leagues to march by land, & presently they
may be shipped to supply these places which shal stand in
most need of them. In al the coast of Peru
there is no
harbour that hath any shipping but onely this place, and
the citie of Lima
, where there are some ships and barks.
The harbour being thus open without any defence, a man
of war may very easily come to this place, as I have certified your majestie, thorow the streits of
Magellane, &
arrive at that instant, when those barks, do come from
Peru
with your majesties gold & silver, for sometimes they
bring 5 or 6 millions in those barks; so the enemy may
come and take al their treasure, & not leese one man,
because here is not one man to resist him, therefore this
place being thus fortified, the treasure may be kept in
the fort. There is a trench made round about your
majesties houses which are builded of timber: the President and Judges did cause it to be made, for that here was
newes brought that there were certaine men of warre, &
pirats comming for these parts. So this trench is thus
maintained until such time as your majesties pleasure is to
the contrary, & in such wise that your souldiers may fight
lying behind the trench; so there is order given to build a
platforme upon the plaine ground, and so to plant such
ordinance in those places, as shall be thought most convenient.
If it wil please your majestie, here we may make a
sconce or fort toward the land side, & so trench it round
about and build it with stone, because here is a place
and al things readie for the same purpose; and by this
meanes the citie would be securely kept: as for the sea
there is no danger at al, by reason that the water doth
ebbe & flow twise a day, and then when it is ebbing water
it wil be all ozy & muddy ground and rocks, so that in no
wise at a low water the enemy can wade over the mud to
come to this city, and it reacheth from the Island til you
come to the bridge called Paita. Two leagues from this
city there lieth a harbor called Perico downe to the Westward: this is a very sure harbour by reason of 3. Islands
which do joyne in maner of a halfe moone, they lie halfe
a league from the maine, the Islands do enclose the harbor
round about, the harbour is a very high land, & the
Ilands are but reasonable high, there is good store of fresh
water: also there hath never any ship bene cast away in
this harbour, for there is 7. fathome water at ful sea, and
3 or 4 fathome at lower water, and very good ground for
their ankering, and when they will trimme their ships,
they may hale them ashore. All those ships and barks
which come from Peru
with gold, silver or any other kind
of commodities, do first come to an anker in this harbour,
and if they have a contrary weather they cannot come into
the harbour of Panama; and for so much as the harbour
hath no defence for the safegard of the ships, if a man of
warre should chance to come into the harbour, all the
barks with the treasure may be very easily taken. And
likewise these barks & ships which do navigate in the
South seas carrie not so much as one piece of ordinance
or a rapier to defend them withall. From this place to
Venta de Cruzes is not passing 5 leagues; so that if any
pinnesse should happen to arrive there, no doubt but they
might robbe and take al your treasure which is in those
barks, by reason that from the shore they cannot be
rescued nor holpen, because it is an Island and refuge
for all ships and barks. If it would please your majestie
here might some fort or defence bee made in the middlemost Island, and some ordinance planted, and this might
bee made with little charges, because in the said Island
there are all kinde of necessaries fit for that purpose, so
by this meanes your majestic may have both the harbour
and the citie very well kept.
And likewise there is another entring into the
South
sea which is called the river of Francisca, which lieth
on this side of the Cabeca de Cativa, and this river doth
come into another river which is called Caracol, and is
five leagues from this citie; and once before these
Simerons brought into this place certaine Frenchmen.
The river of Chagre.
THE river of Chagre lieth in 9. degrees and one tierce.
The mouth of this river is in the North seas 18. leagues
from Nombre de Dios, and 13. leagues from Puerto Bello:
there is caryed up this river certaine quantitie of those
merchandize which are unladen at Nombre de Dios which
come from Spaine. From the mouth of this river to
Venta de Cruzes are eighteene leagues. From this place
where the barkes unlade their commodities, they are
carried upon mules to Panama, which is but five leagues
off from this place.
This river hath great store of water in the Winter.
And the barkes which belong to this river are commonly
of 320. Quintals that is of 16. tunnes in burthen: but in
the Summer there is but small store of water: so then the
barkes have much to doe to get up this river: and in
many places these barks are constrained to unlade their
commodities; and are drawen by mens strength and force
a good way up the river, and therefore if it would please
your majestic to command that all those goods may bee
first unladen in Puerto Bello, and there to build a litle
castle in the mouth of the said river, and at the foote of
the castle to build a storehouse to unlade and keepe all
the sayd goods, and there to build other barks of lesse
burthen: then these would serve for Sommer, and the
great barks for the Winter.
If it would please your majestie, there might a very
good high way be made on the one side of the river, and
so they might bee towed, for it may bee made and not
with much cost because it is all plaine ground, and there
is growing upon the sayd river great store of timber and
trees which doe lie overthwart the said River; so that
they are very cumbersome and great annoiance unto the
said boates, aswell those that go up the said River, as
also that doe come downe the said River.
And therefore if it might please your majestie to command, that Puerto Bello might be inhabited, and the
towne made neerer the Rivers side, every thing would be
a great deale better cheape, if the commodities were
caryed up the River: for it is a great danger to cary them
up by land, for it is daily seene that the mules do many
times fall and breake their neckes with their lading upon
their backs, as well the treasure as other kinde of commodities, because it is such a bad way. And your majestie
might be at this charges and spend your revenewes of
Nombre de Dios and Panama, which do yerely yield 12 or
14 thousand pezos, & this being once done it would be a
great ayd and benefit to those, which doe trade and
trafficke, and to those merchantes which doe send their
goods over-land, and ease them much of paine and purse,
because the other is a most filthy way, as any is in the
world.
