A Short ACCOUNT from, AND DESCRIPTION OF THE ISTHMUS OF DARIEN, WHERE THE Scots Colony Are Settled.  
With a Particular MAP of the Isthmus and Entrance to the River of Darien.  
According to our late News, and Mr. Dampier, and Mr. Wafer.  
EDINBURGH, Printed: And Sold by John Vallange, at his Shop on the North-side of the Street, a little above the Cross: And by James Wardlaw, at his Shop in the Parliament Closs, Price 7 Pence. 1699.   

A short ACCOUNT of the late NEWS from DARIEN, etc.  
THE Welcome News of our African Ships safe Arrival at America being come, I know no better Way to satisfy the Curious, then by giving the Contents of some Letters writ from the Place where they are Settled, dated about the End of December last from New Edinburgh. A Captain of my Acquaintance, whom I know to be an Intelligent Person writes thus.  
We are here Settled in a very Pleasant Soil upon a Bay, perhaps one of the Pleasantest in the West-Indies: In the Division of the two Kingdoms of Mexico and Peru, where a Thousand of the greatest Ships in Europe may Ride at Anchor safe from Storms. We are just now making a Fort upon the Point of the Mouth of the Bay, which will defend us against all Attempts whatsoever. Upon the second of November last, our Ships came to Anchor in the Bay, and in two Days all our Men were set on Shore, without any Opposition. The Natives received us very Kindly, there not being many of them, and their Plantations but a few: However, from thence they come daily to us with Plantaines, Yams, Potatoes, Sugar Canes, Cocks and Hens, and such things as the Country affords. Several of our People have been abroad at their Plantations, and have been very Kindly Entertained by them. Show all my Friends and Comrades, that I have no less Thoughts of the Undertaking now then ever, but rather, upon good Ground, far bigger. Both our Ministers are dead, and their Death's very much Lamented by us all: Our Officers are all Alive, save Lieutenant James Inglis, and Lieutenant Hugh Hay. Our Passage was very good, but somewhat Longsome. We had not near so great Loss of our Men, as was expected. we have no Reason to doubt, but that there are Gold Mines in this Place, for the Natives have Plenty of Gold Dust, and Rock Gold amongst them, although they dare not open the Mines, for fear of the Spainiard. They do not know the true Value or Use of it, for I saw one give for an Old Coat, not worth above Twenty Shilling Sterlin, to the Value of Twenty Guineas of Gold. The next Occasion I shall tell you of a Cargo, shall be worth your while to come over with.  
Other Letters are much of the same Import, As that they Arrived them upon the second of November, Sounded the Coasts on the third, and Landed on the fourth. That the Rains were over, before they Arrived there. The Men wear a Plate of Silver or Gold hanging over their Lip (some whereof are come Home, and I have seen one of them) That the Inhabitants live to a great Age, some to a Hundred and Twenty Years. That the Inhabitants have some Quantity both of Dust and Rock Gold: And that after Falling of the Rains, the Rivers have a Scum upon them, of the Colour of Gold: And some of the Clay that they find, seems to have a Mixture of something like Gold. But they are not so busy in Felling of Trees, and Clearing of the Ground, and Fortifying themselves, that they have had no Leisure yet to try Experiments: And that they do not doubt, but that they have Gold Mines near to them.  
That it would Rejoice any Scots Heart, in coming in to that Bay, to see two Scots Flags Flying, one upon their Main Fort, which is pretty well advanced, and another upon a Redoubt, from whence they have a great Prospect.  
My Scale being so small, I hope the Intelligent will not expect it should Answer to a Nicety, or that there is so great a Distance between the Flags.  
I hope these who understand the Expenses of Cutting of Copper Plates, will not Quarrel the Price of my Book.  
There being such Abundance of Letters spread over the Country, I hope it will not be expected, I should insist much in Repeating of them, so I proceed to Mr. Dampier's and Mr. Wafer's Description.   

A Short Description of the Isthmus of DARIEN, &c:  
THE Project of our Scots African Company, being a Design of so great Import, That upon the Success thereof, the Honour and Happiness of the Nation, does in a great Measure depend:  
Me thinks there will be few True Scots Men but will be concerned to know something of their Success, and where they Design to Settle, and what is the Climate, Air, Soil, People, etc. of that place: I have therefore undertaken this small work for public Satisfaction.  
It is generally agreed to, by the most Relations we have had, That they are Settled, or Design to Settle, at the Isthmus of Darien, Golden Island, or River of Darien: Of which I shall give you a short account; which that I may do to the better Satisfaction. I do not insist upon what these Places have been, nor Consulted some Old Map or Geographer about it: For I know there are great Changes, within these few Years, upon some of these Parts, by the Pirates or Buccaneers. As for Instance, That remarkable Town of Nombre de Dios, is nothing now but the Name of a Town, the Place and Town being desolate.  
I have therefore given 〈◊〉, if not all, of what you have here, out of Two of the latest Writers, who have both been a considerable time in those Parts, and have published Two very late Books: viz. Mr. Dampier in Anno 1698, and Mr. Wafer this same Year. Which Books, being of a considerable Price, and treating of several other Parts of the World, and containing some Digressions; I have thought it would be no unacceptable Work to Extract what relates more particularly to Our Scots African Company.  
This Isthmus of Darien, is that narrow Neck of Land, or narrowest part of the Isthmus of America, whereby the main Land of North- America and South, are joined together, (for an Isthmus is nothing else, but a narrow Neck of Land betwixt two Main Continents, or Main Lands)  

NAME  
It is called, Isthmus of DARIEN, probably from the great River of that Name, wherewith its Northern Coast is bounded on the East   

LATITUDE.  
It is mostly comprehended, (as Mr. Wafer says) betwixt the Latitudes of 8 and 10 North. But its Breadth in the narrowest part, is much about One Degree, or Threescore Miles.  
It is bounded on the North and South, by the North and South Oceans; and is of a very singular Situation, very Pleasant and Agreeable.  
A great many valueable Islands lie scattered along each Coast, the Bastimento's, and others; but especially the large range of the Sambalo's on the North side, and the Kings, or Pearl Islands and Perica on the South side in the Bay of Panama this Bay is caused by the bending of the Isthmus; and for the Bigness of it, there is not (it may be) a more Pleasant and Advantageous one any where to be found.  
The Land of this Continent is almost every where of an unequal Surface, distinguished with Hills and Valleys, of great variety for Height, Depth, and Extent: They are generally watered with Rivers, Brooks, and Perennial Springs, with which the Country very much abounds, and do most of them come from a Ridge or Chain of High Hills, in a manner parallel to the North shore; from whence you may have a fair Prospect of the North-Sea, and its various making of the Shore.  
Betwixt these Hills and the Shore, it is most part covered with Woods.   

RIVER'S,  
The Rivers are some of them indifferent large, though but few Navigable, as having Barrs and Sholes at the Mouths, and on the North-side their course is but short, rising from the main Ridge of Hills.  

Rivers of DARIEN, CHAGRE, and CONCEPTION.  
The River of DARIEN is indeed a very large one; but the Depth at the Entrance, is not answerable to the Wideness of its Mouth, though its deep enough further in: But from thence to CHAGRE, the whole length of this Coast, they are little better than Brooks: Nor is the River of CONCEPTION any other, which comes out overagainst La Sounds Key in the Samballo's,  
The Soil on this North Coast is various; generally its good Land rising in Hills; but to the Sea here and there Suamps,    

CARET BAY and GOLDEN ISLAND,  
Inclusively from Caret Bay, which lies in the River Darien, and is the only Harbour in it to the Promontory near Golden Island; the Shore of the Isthmus is indifferently fruitful, partly Sandy Bay, and part of it muddy.  

CARET BAY,  
Caret Bay, hath 2 or 3 Rivulets of fresh Water falling into it, as Mr. Wafer is informed, but he says he was not there.  
To the Westward of the Cape is a Bay; the Entrance whereof is deep Water, and has three Islands lying before it, which make it an extraordinary good Harbour.   

GOLDEN ISLAND.  
The Eastermost of these Three, is Golden Island, (where, its Reported our African Company design to Settle) it is a small Island, with a fair deep Channel between it and the Main: It is Rocky & and Steep; all round to the Sea (and thereby Naturally Fortified) except only the Landing Place, which is a small Sandy-Bay on the South side, towards the Harbour, from which it gently rises. It is moderately High, and covered with small Trees or Shrubs. The Land of the Isthmus opposite to it, is excellent fruitful Land, of a black Mould, with Sand intermixed, and is pretty level, for 4 or 5 Miles, till you come to the foot of the Hills.  
Mr. Wafer says, He has been a shore, and in the Harbour near it, for a Fortnight together. Near the Eastern-point of the Bay, which is not above 3 or 4 Furlongs distant from Golden Island; there is a Rivulet of very good Water. To go to Golden Island Harbour, you most enter by the East-end of Golden Island, between that, and the Main.  
To the South of Sancta Maria, and the River of Congo, is the Gold River, affording Gold Dust in great plenty: For hither the Spainards' of Panama, and Sancta Maria Town, bring up their Slaves to gather up the Gold Dust.  
Mr. Wafer says, That during his abode with Lacenta (their King or Chief Person) he often accompanied him a Hunting, wherein he took great Delight: And that one time accompanying him, they passed by a River where the Spainards' were gathering Gold.  
Mr. Dampier takes this River to be one of these which comes from the Southeast, & runs into the Gulf of St. Michael. When they came near the place where they wrought, they stole softly throw the Woods, and placing themselves behind the Great Trees, looked on them a good while, the Gold-Gatherers not seeing them.  

The way of gathering GOLD  
The manner of their Getting Gold is as follows: They have little wooden Dishes, which they dip softly into the Water, and and take it up half full of Sand, which they draw Gently out of the Water, and at every Dipping they take up Gold mixed with the Sand, and Water, more or less. This they shake, and the Sand riseth, and goes over the brims of the Dish with the Water; but the Gold settles to the Bottom. This done they bring it out, and dry it in the Sun, and then Pound it in a Mortar. Then they take it out and spread it on Paper; and having a Load stone, they move that over it, which draws all the Iron from it; and this they bottle up: If they meet with good Success, and a favourable Time, They carry with them, by Report (for Mr. Wafer says▪ He Learned these Particulars of a Spainard whom they took at St. Maria under Captain Sharp) 18000 or 20000 Pound weight of Gold: But whether they Gather more or less, it's incredible (he says) to Report the store of Gold, which is Yearly washed down out of Rivers.  
Cheapo is a Considerable River, but no good Entry for Shoalls.     

WEATHER.  
The Wether is Warm, and has a Season of Rain.   

TREES.  
There's in this Country, Great Variety of Trees of several Kind's, unknown to us in Europe, as well Fruit Trees, as others.  

COTTON and MACKAW TREES.  
The Cotton Tree is the largest of any, and grows in most parts of the Isthmus. On the Continent on the South Side of the Isthmus, are Mackaw Tree, which the Indians frequently cut down to get the Berries.   

BIBBY TREE.  
Here are Bibby Tree, which yields a Potable Liquor: Coco Trees are in the Islands.  
On the Main grows a Tree, that has Fruit like a Cherry, and Plantaines in Abundance, and Bonano a Fruit Tree.  
And in the Islands▪ Mamee Trees with a Wholesome Delicious Fruit, and Sapadilla has a pleasant Fruit on the Ma●●; Pine-aple Prickle Pear, and Pope's Head a Plant.  
On the Isthmus also Sugar Canes, which the Indians make no other Use of, but to Chew and Suck out the Juice: There are also Calabash Tree, the largest of whose Nuts Shells will hold four or five English Quarts, and are made Use of by the Indians as Vessels. Gourds also, Eatable and Medicinal: An Useful Plant called Silk Grass for making Stockings of, with many other Sorts of Trees, Plants, and Tobacco.    

BEASTS.  
The Country has of its own, a kind of Hog called Pecary, and another called Waree, both wild and good Meat; Deer, Dogs, Rabbits, Monkeys, an Insect called Soldiers Insect like a Snail, in great plenty, and delicious Meat, but poisonous if used with Machaneel Apples, their Oil is an excellent Salve; there are also Land Crabs, called Guano's.   

BIRDS.  
They have several Sorts of Birds, some of Kind's unknown to us, remarkable both for their Beauty and good Relish of their Flesh; such as  
Chicaly-Chicaly a large Land Bird. The Quam a large Land Bird, another Shaped not unlike a Partridge, all Eatable, the last very good Meat. The Corrosow, large as a Turkey Hen, their Flesh something Tough, otherways very good Meat. Variety of Parrots, Parakits, Macaw-Birds, a Beautiful Bird which the Indians Tame, Woodpecker.   

DUNGHILL FOWELS.  
They have great Plenty of Poultry, as also small Birds, Flying Infects, Bees which Mr. Wafer inclines to think wants Stings; for he says, he has had many of them upon his Naked Body, without being Stung.   

FISH.  
The North Sea Coast abounds in Fish, and has great Variety of them, such as Tarpoon, Sharks, Dogfish, Oldwives, Paracoods, some of the last Named are Poisonous, Gar Fish two Foot long, Sculpines one Foot long, with several others, and Shell Fish.  
Mr. Dampier gives Account of a considerable Fish called Manatee, or Sea Cow, in the River of Darien, an Excellent Fish about the Bigness of a Horse, ten or twelve Foot long, its Mouth much like the Mouth of a Cow, Eyes no bigger than a Pea, two large Fins, under each of which, the Female hath a small Dug to Suckle her Young, they live on Grass which grows in the Sea: A Calf that Sucks, is the most delicate Meat. He describes the Way of taking them.  

The way of Catching Manatee or Sea-Cow.  
There are a sort of the Indians called Moskito, Men, Dexterous at striking of this, or other Fishes. The way is this, They have always a small Canoa for their use, which they keep very Neat and Clean. They use no Oars, but Padles the broad part of which, doth not go Tapering towards the Staff or Handle of it, as in the Oar, nor do they use it in the same manner, by laying it on the Side of the Vessel, but hold it Perpendicularly, Gripping the Staff hard with both Hands, and putting back the Water by main Strength, and very quick Strokes. One of the Moskitoes (for there go but Two in a Canoa) Sits in the Stern, the other Knelt down in the Head, and both Paddle, till they come to the Place where they expect their Game, than they lie still, or Paddle very softly, looking well about them; and he that is in the Head of the Canoa, lays down his Paddle, and stands up with his Striking Staff in his Hand: This Staff is about Eight Foot long, almost as big as a Man's Arm at the Great End, in which there is a Hole to place his Harpoon in, at the other end of his Staff, there is a piece of Light Wood called Bobwood, with a Hole in it, throw which the small end of the Staff comes, and on this piece of Bobwood, there is a Line of 10 or 12 Fathom wound neatly about, and the end of the Line made fast to it. The other end of the Line is made fast to the Harpoon, which is at the great End of the Staff, and the Moskito Man keeps about a Fathom of it lose in his Hand. When he strikes, the Harpoon presently comes out of the Staff, and as the Manatee swims away, the Line runs off from the Bob; and although at first, both Staff and Bobb may be carried under Water, yet as the Line runs off, it will rise again. Then the Moskito Men Paddle with all their might, to get hold of the Bob again, and spend usually a Quarter of an Hour before they get it. When the Manatee begins to be tired, it lieth still, and then the Moskito Men Paddle to the Bob, and take it up, and begin to hale in the Line. When the Manatee feels them, he swims away again, with the Canoa after him: Then he that Steers, must be Nimble, to turn the Head of the Canoa that way that his Consort points, who being in the Head of the Canoa, and holding the Line, both sees and feels which way the Manatee is swimming. Thus the Canoa is Towed with a Violent Motion, till the Manatees Strength decays. Then they gather in the Line, which they are often forced to let all go to the very End. At length, when the Creatures Strength is spent, they hale it up to the Canoas' Side, and knock it on the Head, and Tow it to the nearest Shore, where they make it fast, and seek for another; which having taken, they go on Shore with it, to put it into their Canoa: For 'tis so heavy, that they cannot lift it in, but they hale it up in Shoal-Water, as near the Shore as they can, and then Overset the Canoa, laying one Side close to the Manatee. Then they Roll it in, which brings the Canoa upright again, and when they have Heaved out the Water, they fasten a Line to the other Manatee that lieth Afloat, and Tow it after them.  
Mr. Dampier says, He has known two Moskito Men for a Week, every day bring abroad 2 Manatee in this manner, the least of which hath not weighted less than 600 Pound, and that in a very small Canoa, that 3 English Men would scarce adventure to go in. When they strick a Cow that hath a young one, they seldom miss the Calf, for she commonly takes her Young under one of her Fins. But if the Calf is so big, that she cannot carry it, or so frighted that she only minds to save her own Life; yet the Young never leaves her till the Moskito Men have an opportunity to strick her.    

Of the Indian Inhabitants.  
The Indian Inhabitants of the Isthmus are not very Numerous, but they live thickest on the North Side: The Size of the Men is usually about five or six Foot: Streight, Clean Limbed, Big Boned. The Young Women very Plump, Fat, Well Shaped, and have a Brisk Eye. The Elder are very ordinary, both Sexes have long Black Hair down to the Middle of their Back. Their Colour is Copper Colour, or Orange Tanny.  
Mr. Wafer gives also an Account of a strange sort of People, (whereof there are but few) whiter in colour then any Europeans, much like that of a white Horse, their-bodies beset all over with a white Down, throw which the Skin appears it is so thin set, Their Eyelids bend and open in an oblong-Figure, forming an Arch, or Figure of a crescent: with the points downwards. From hence, and from their seeing so clear as they do in a Moon-shiny night, they used to call them Moon eyed: For they see not very well in the Sun; so that in the Daytime they care not to go abroad. But notwithstanding their being Sluggish in the Daytime; yet when Moon-shyny Nights come, they are all Life and Activity, running abroad and into the Woods. He adds, that Lacenta (their Prince, or chief Person) told him, That it was throw the force of the Mother's imagination, looking on the Moon at the time of Conception, they came to be thus White: But he leaves this to others to judge of.  
Both these & the Copper coloured Indians, use painting their bodies, even of the sucking Children some times. They make Figures of Birds, Beasts, Men, Trees, or the like, up and down in every part of the Body, more especially in the Face. The Women are the Painters. The Colours they use, and like most, are Red, Yellow, and Blue. Finer Figures they imprint thus; they prick all over with a sharp Thorn, till the Blood gushes out, than they rub the place with their Hands first dipped in the colour they design, and the Picture so made is indelible; but scarce one in Forty of them is painted this way.  
They wear no clothes ordinarily, but only the Women have a Clout or piece of Cloth about their Middle, tied behind with a Thread, and hanging down to their Knees, or their Ankles if they can get one large enough: They make these of Cotton: Nothing will oblige the Women more, than to give them clothes, especially of Gaudy Colours,  
The Men go ordinarily quite naked, and have only a small Vessel of Gold or Silver, or Plantain leaf, of a Conic Figure, where with they cover the Penis.  
Both Sexes are a Modest and cleanly people; when they would go to Stool they choice always to go into the River, having a great Sense of Shame as to that particular.  
Yet the Men also have a value for clothes, and if any of them had an old Shirt given him by any of the Europeans, he would be sure to wear it, and strut about at no ordinary rate. Besides this, they have a sort of long Cotton Garments, which they wear at Great Occasions, as attending the King, or at a Feast: The Women carry those after them, and they put them on when they come to the place.  
The Men wear a piece of Plate hanging over their Mouths at all times, generally of Silver; it's of Oval Figure, covering their Mouth from Corner to Corner; the plate is like the figure of a Half-Moon, which gently pincheth the Bridle of the Nose with its points, it hangs dangling from thence; it's about the thickness of a Guinea. These when they go a Hunting, are smaller: Mr. Wafer wore such an one among them of Gold.  
In stead of this plate, the Women wear a Ring hanging down in the same manner. It goes throw the Bridle of the Nose. They have also several other Ornaments, as Strings of Teeth, Shells, Beads, etc. when they would appear in State.   

HOUSES  
Their Houses lie thin and scattering, and always by a Riverside: Their Building Irregular, in length about 24 Foot, the Breadth proportionable: No Chimney, but a hole in the Thatch Several Houses in the Village or Neighbourhood, have one Warehouse or Fort, common to them, which is generally at least 120 or 130 Foot long, about 25 broad. The Wall about 9 or 10 Foot high: The Sides and Ends of these Warehouses are full of Holes, each about as Wide as one's Fist. Out of these they View an Approaching Enemy, and Shoot their Arrows: They have no Way of Flanking an Enemy: There is a Door-way at each Side, and to Barrocado it, a Sort of Door made of Bamboes' and Maccaw Wood, Split and Bound together with Withs; it's about a Foot thick. This they have ready set up against an Enemy's Entrance, and two or three Posts in the Ground to support it: Yet they are easily set on Fire. And the Spainards' Shoot into the Thatch, Arrows with long Shanks, made Red Hot for that Purpose.   

Their HUSBANDRY.  
In the Plantations they set so much Plaintaine (which, as I am Informed by one Mr. B—, another Traveller in those Parts, is a Tree with broad great Leaves, and has a large fruit, Pale or Straw Coloured, almost of the Colour of our Carrots, but not so Reddish or Yellow) as serves their Occasions. The first thing of their Husbandry, is usually to cut down the Trees, and clear a piece of Ground: They often let the Trees lie on the place three or four Years after they are cut down, and then set Fire to them and the Underwood or Stump, burning all together; yet in the mean time they plant Maiz (a sort of Indian Corn, whereof one produces more than 100, & is that which hangs in Skippers, or Sailors Houses, and is called sometimes Indian W●eat, sometimes Turkish Corn) among the Trees as they lie. So much of the Roots of the Trees as are under Ground, they suffer to lie there and Rot, having no Way to Grub them up. When the Ground is pretty clear, they How it up into little Ridges; in each of these Hillocks they make a Hole with their Fingers, and throw in two or three Grains of Maiz, as we do Garden Beans, covering it up with Earth.  
The Seed Time is about April, the Harvest about September or October.  
An Odd Way of Fermenting Drink. They make a Drink of their Maiz Bruised, which they call Chichach Co-pach; (for Co-pach signifies Drink.) They Steep in a Trough of Water, Twenty or Thirty Bushels, till the Water is Impregnated with the Corn, and begins to turn Sour: Then the Women, usually some Old Women, who have little else to do, come together, & Chew Grains of Maiz in their Mouths, which they Spit out, each into a Gourd or Calabash: And when they think they have a sufficient Quantity of this spital and Maiz in the Calabashes, they Empty them into the Trough of Water, after having first taken out the Maiz that was Infused into it: And this serves in stead of Barm or Yeast, setting all in a Ferment: It Tastes like Sour Small Beer. This is their Choice Drink; for ordinarily they Drink Mislaw, which Mr. Wafer describes at large.  
The Women are, in general, the Drudges of the Family; Yet they do it Cheerfully, and are Well Conditioned, Pitiful, and Courteous to one another, but especially to Strangers; They observe their Husbands, with all Profound Respect and Duty upon all Occasions: And on the other Side, their Husbands are very Kind and Loving to them.  
When a Woman is Delivered of a Child, another Woman takes it in her Arms, within half an Hour or less after it's Born, and takes the Lying-in Woman upon her Back, and goes with both of them into the River, and Washes them. The Child, for the first three Months, is Tied upon a Board, and this Piece of Board, or Maccaw-Wood, is Suathed to the Back of the Child, and their Children generally grow very Straight. The Mother takes up the Child to give it Suck, Board and all.  
As the Children grow up, the Boys are Bred to their Father's Exercises, especially Shooting with the Bow and Arrow, or Throwing a Lance. Mr. Wafer says, he has seen a little Boy about Eight Years Old, would set a Cane up upon one End, and going about Twenty Paces from it, would Split it with a Bow and Arrow, and not miss once in several Essays.  
They have a Severe Punishment, if a Man Debauches a Virgin. But the Fact must be proved by Oath, which is by their Tooth.   

Their MARRIAGE.  
When they Marry, the Father of the Bride, or next Man of Kin, keeps her privately in some Apartment with himself, the first seven Nights, and she is then delivered to her Husband.  
When a Man Disposes of his Daughter, he Invites all the Indians within Twenty Miles round to a Great Feast. which he provides for them. The Men who come to the Wedding, bring their Axes along with them, to Work with: The Women bring about half a Bushel of Maiz: The Boys bring Fruit and Roots: The Girls, Fowls and Eggs; for none come Empty Handed. They set their Presents at the Door of the House, and go away again, till all the rest of the Guests have brought theirs, which are all Received in, and Disposed of by the People of the House.  
Then the Men return first to the Wedding, and the Bridegroom presents each Man with a Calabash of Strong Drink, and Conducts them through the House one by one, into some open Place behind it: The Women come next, who likeways receive a Calabash of Liquor, and March throw the House: Then come the Boys; and last of all the Girls, who all Drink at the Door, and go after the rest. Then come the Fathers of the Young Couple, with their Son and Daughter. The Father of the Bridegroom leads his Son, and the Father of the Bride leads his Daughter. The former makes a Speech to the Company, and then Dances about with many Antic Gestures, till he is all on a Sweat. Then Kneeling down, he gives his Son to the Bride, whose Father is Kneeling also, and holds her, having Danced himself into a Sweat as the other. Then the Young Couple take each other by the Hand, and the Bridegroom returns the Bride to her Father: And thus ends the Ceremony.  
Then all the Men take up their Axes, and Run, Shouting and Hollowing, to a Tract of Wood-Land, which is before laid out for a Plantation for the Young Couple. There they fall to Work as fast as they can, Cutting down the Woods. Thus they continue about seven Days. As they clear the Ground, the Women Plant Maiz, or something else. They Build an House for the new Married Couple.  
Then they Feast, and Drink Chicha Co-pah, Drinking Night and Day, till all the Liquor is spent, which lasts usually three or four Days, some always Drinking, while others are Drunk and Sleeping. And when all the Drink is out, and they have recovered their Senses, they all return to their own Homes.   


A Map of the ISTHMUS of DARIEN & Bay of PANAMA  
To the Right Honourable the COUNCIL GENERAL & COURT of DIRECTORS of the COMPANY of SCOTLAND Trading to AFRICA & The INDIES This Map Is Humbly Dedicated   
ja. Aytoun Sculpsit   

The Mens EMPLOYMENTS.  
The Men, when at Home, trouble themselves with little Business; but, that they may not be quite Idle, they will often be making their Cups and Baskets, Arrows, and Heads for them; Lances, Nets, and the like.  
When Flesh fails at Home, they go out a Hunting, a Hunting Expedition lasts sometimes three or four, sometimes ten, twelve, seventeen, or eighteen Days, according as they meet with Game: They Hunt Pecary, Waree, Quams, Chicaly Chicalees, Corrosows, or any other Beast or Bird they meet with.   

Their TRAVELLING.  
When they Travel, they Guide themselves either by the Sun when it Shines, or by Steering to such a Determinat Point, observing the Bending of the Trees according as the Wind is. If they are at a Loss this Way, they Notch the Bark of Trees, to see which Side is thickest, which is always the South.   

women's DIVERSIONS.  
The Women have Dance and Merriments by themselves, when their Husband's Pastimes are over; for they never Feast, nor Play with the Men, but they will Drink by themselves till they are Fuddled.  
They take great Care of their Husbands, when they have made themselves Drunk: For when they perceive him so, they get one or two more Women to Assist them to take him up, and put him into his Hammock, where, as he lies Snoring, they stand by, and Sprinkle Water to Cool him, Washing his Hands, Feet, and Face, Stroking off that Water with their Hands, as it grows Warm.   

DESCRIPTION of LACENTA's PALACE.  
This House is Situate on a Fine little Hill, on which grows a Stately Grove of Cotton Trees, the Bodies of these Trees were generally six Foot in Diameter, nay some eight, nine, ten, eleven: For (Mr. Wafer, who gives the Relation, says) four Indians and his self, took Hand in Hand round a Tree, and could not Fathom it: Here was likeways a Stately Plaintain Walk, and a Grove of other small Trees, that would make a Pleasant Artificial Wilderness, if Industry and Art were bestowed on it.  
The Circumference of this Pleasant little Hill, contains at least a Hundred Acres of Land, and is a Peninsula of an Oval Form, almost Surrounded with two great Rivers, one coming from the East, the other from the West, which, approaching within forty Foot of each other at the Front of the Peninsula, separate again, Embracing the Hill, and meet on the other Side, making there one pretty large River, which runs very Swift. There is therefore but one Way to come in to this Seat, which, as is before observed, is not above forty Foot Wide between the Rivers on each Side: And it's Fenced with Hollow Bamboes', Popes-Heads, and Pricle-Pears, so thick set from one Side the Neck of Land to the other, that its impossible for any Enemy to approach it.  
On this Hill live fifty principal Men of the Country, all under Lacenta's Command, who is as a Prince over all the South Parts of the Isthmus of Darien. The Indians both there, and on the North Side also, paying him great Respect. But the South Side is his Country, and this Hill his Seat or Palace.  
There is only one Canoa belonging to it, which serves to Ferry over Lacenta and the rest of them.  
Lacenta having desired Mr. Wafer and his Companions to stay with him, they had not been long there, before an Occurrence happened, which Tended much to the Increasing the Good Opinion, Lacenta and his People had Conceived of them, and brought Mr. Wafer into particular Esteem with them.   

The INDIANS WAY OF LETTING BLOOD.  
It so happened, that one of Lacenta's Wives, being Indisposed, was to be let Blood: Which (Mr Wafer says) the Indians perform in this Manner: The Patient is Seated on a Stone in the River, and one, with a small Bow, shoe's little Arrows into the Naked Body of the Patient, up and down, Shooting them as fast as he can, not missing any part. But the Arrows are Gagged, so that they can Penetrate no further than we generally Thrust our Lancets: And if by Chance they Hit a Vein which is full of Blood, and the Blood Spurts out a little, they will Leap and Skip about, showing many Antic Gestures, by Way of Rejoicing and Triumph.  
Mr. Wafer says he was by, while this was performing on Lacenta's Lady: And perceiving their Ignorance, told Lacenta, that if he pleased, he would show him a better Way, without putting the Patient to so much Torment; so, at Lacenta's Allowance or Command, Mr. Wafer Bound up her Arm with a piece of Bark, and with his Lancet Breathed a Vein: But this Rash Attempt (he says) had like to have cost him his Life; for Lacenta seeing the Blood Issue out in a Stream, which used to come only Drop by Drop, got hold of his Lance, and Swore by his Tooth, that if she did otherwise then well, he would have Mr. Wafers Hearts Blood. Mr. Wafer says, he desired him to be patient, and drew off about twelve Ounces, and Bound up her Arm, and desired she might rest till the next Day; by which Means the Fever Abated, and she had not another Fit.  
This gained Mr. Wafer so much Reputation, that Lacenta came to him, and before all his Attendants, Bowed and Kissed Mr. Wafers Hand: Then the rest came thick about him, and Kissed his Hand, others his Knee, and some his Foot: After which he was taken up into a Hammock, and carried on men's Shoulders, Lacenta himself making a Speech in his Praise, and Commending him as much superior to any of their Doctors. Thus he was carried from Plantation to Plantation, and lived in great Splendour and Repute, Administering both Physic and Phlebotomy to these that wanted; for though he had lost his Salves and Plasters, by a Negro's running away with his Knapsack: Yet he preserved a Box of Instruments, and a few Medicaments wrapped up in an Oil Cloth, by having them in his Pocket.  
He lived thus some Months among the Indians, who in a manner Adored him: Some of these Indians had been Slaves to the Spaniards, and had made their Escapes, which he supposes, was the Cause of their expressing a Desire of Baptism: But more to have an European Name given them, then for any thing they knew of Christianity.   

DESCRIPTION of another Sort of INDIANS.  
Mr. Dampier relates, That upon some Islands lying near the Main, called by the Privateers the Corn Islands, which he says, he takes to be the same, which are generally called in the Maps, the Pearl-Islands, they went Ashore, but found none of the Inhabitants; for (says he) here are but a few Poor Naked Indians that live here; who have been so often Plundered by the Privateers. that they have but little Provisions; and when they see a Sail, they hide themselves; otherwise Ships that come here would take them, and make Slaves of them; and I have seen some of them that have been Slaves. They are People of a mean Stature, yet strong Limbs; they are of a dark Copper Colour, black Hair, full round Faces, small black Eyes their Eyebrows hanging over their Eyes, low Foreheads, short thick Noses, not High, but Flattish; full Lips, and short Chins. They have a Fashion to cut Holes in the Lips of the Boys, when they are Young, close to their Chin; which they keep open with little Pegs, till they are fourteen or fifteen Years Old: Then they wear Beards in them, made of Turtle or Tortoise-shell, in the Form you see in the Copperplate. The little Notch at the upper End, they put in through the Lip, where it remains between the Teeth and the Lip; the under part hangs down over their Chin. This they commonly wear all Day, and when they Sleep, they take it out. They have likewise Holes bored in their Ears, both Men and Women, when Young; and by continual Stretching them with long Pegs, they grow to be as big as a Milled Five Shilling piece Herein they wear Pieces of Wood, Cut very Round and Smooth, so that 
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The Nose Plate  their Ear seems to be all Wood, with a little Skin about it. Another Ornament the Women use, is about their Legs, which they are very Curious in; for from the Infancy of the Girls, their Mothers make fast a piece of Cotton Cloth about the Small of their Leg, from the Ankle to their Calf, very hard; which makes them have a very full Calf: This the Women wear to their Dying Day. Both Men and Women go Naked, only a Clout about their Wastes; yet they have but little Feet, though they go Barefoot.   

The Caution of Mr. Dampier's Crew, in Eating the Fruit of these Country's.  
They take this for a General Rule, when they meet with any Fruits that they have not seen before, if they see them Pecked by Birds, than they may freely Eat, but if they see no such Sign, they let them alone.  
Mr. Dampier giving an Account, how he went towards the Coast of Cartagena, That in his Way thither, they passed by the River of Darien, which he says (as before I noticed) is very broad at the Mouth: And that Captain Coxon went up this River with a Party of Men, and that every Man carried a small strong Bag to put his Gold in.  
That they Rowed about a Hundred Leagues, before they came to any Settlement, and then found some Spaniards, who lived there to Truck with the Indians for Gold; THERE BEING GOLD SCALES IN EVERY HOUSE.  
This much for a Taste of the Nature of that Country: They that are Curious, may Read these Authors, viz. Mr. Dampier and Mr. Wafer, who are both more full and very pleasant.  
FINIS.    

ERRATA.  
Page 1. Line 25. Read Mr. Dampier 's third Edition. Page3. Line 27. All within the Parenthesis deleatur. The Map seems to make Golden Island too near the Entrance of the River, and a Bay with some Islands, which it might perhaps be righter if it wanted, and the Flag should not stand upon an Island. The Word New Edinburgh, and Port Caledonia seem placed too far Eastward.