Iver.] [Footnote 18: Scelle, _op. cit._, i. pp.
64-5; Duhalde and de Rochefort. There were two ways of sending goods from Panama to Porto Bello.

One was an overland route of 18 leagues, and was used only during the summer. The other was by land as far as Venta Cruz, 7 leagues from Panama, and thence
by water
on the river Chagre to
its mouth,
a distance of 26 leagues. When the river was high the transi t might be accomplished in two or three days, but at other times from six to twelve days were required.
To transfer goods from Chagre to Porto

Bello was a matter of only eight or nine hours. This route was used in winter when the roads were rendered impassable by the great rains and floods. The overland journey, though shorter, was also more difficult and expensive. The goods were carried on long