his own nation, complained of his proceedings in this particular, and feared not to tell him openly to his face that he had reserved the best jewels for himself. For they judged it impossible that no greater share should belong to them than two hundred pieces of eight per capita, of so many valuable booties and robberies as they had obtained. Which small sum they thought too little reward for so much labour and such huge and manifest dangers as they had so often exposed their lives to. But Capt. Morgan was dead to all these and many other complaints of this kind, having designed in his mind to cheat them of as much as he could. At last Capt. Morgan finding himself obnoxious by many obloquies and detractions among his people, began to fear the consequences thereof and hereupon thinking it unsafe to remain any longer time at Chagre, he commanded the ordnance of the said castle to be carried on board his ship. Afterwards he caused the greatest part of the walls to be demolished, and the edifices to be burnt, and as many other things spoiled and ruined as could conveniently be done in a short while. These orders being performed, he went se cretly on board his own ship, without giving any notice of his departure to his companions, nor calling any council as he used to do. Thus he set sail and put out to sea, not bidding anybody adieu, being only followed by three or four vessels of the whole fleet. These were such (as the French Pirates believed) as went shares with Capt. Morgan towards the best and greatest part of the spoil which had been concealed from them in the dividend. The Frenchmen could very willingly have revenged this affront upon Capt. Morgan and those that followed him, had they found themselves with sufficient means to encounter him at sea. Yea, they had much ado to find sufficient victuals and provisions for their voyage to Jamaica, he having left them totally unprovided of all things. CHAPTER V PANAMA OF TO-DAY THE situation of Panama Viejo was beautiful. It stood upon a wooded coast. A wide expanse of savanna stretched behind it, and beyond this ranged the mountains, from the summit of which Morgan's men looked down upon the doomed city. The natural features of the position did not lend themselves to defence and but slight attempt at fortification was made. At the time that the city was founded, and for a century thereafter, there did not appear to be any necessity for providing against attack. Spain was supreme on Terra Firma and in the neighboring seas. To reach Panama a hostile force would need to make the journey round Cape Horn, or to cross the Isthmus, and both of these undertakings were considered too difficult to be seriously considered as possible contingencies. Drake's excursions to the Pacific and the sack |