Page:Narrative of the Proceedings of Pedrarias Davila (Haklyut, 34).djvu/125

Rh time for navigating from Panama to Peru or Nicaragua is from January to May, which is the season for north and east winds; but from Payta, and even from Puerto Viejo, the wind is south all the year round. At the foot of Buenaventura the sea recedes more than half a league, and at the island of Palms and the bay of La Cruz, it recedes the distance of a cannon shot, though the distance from one of these places to the other is eight and ten leagues. And all along the coast the sea recedes more at one place than at another, according to the flow. In the North Sea the tide rises and falls very little, never more than half a cannon shot, although there may be an ebb and flow between this sea and gulf of Darien.

The province of Bogota bears east and west from Lili, and is not distant above seven leagues on a straight road. This province was very populous, and very rich in gold and emeralds. The licentiate Jimenez and Federman set out in search of Peru, and reached this province. When Federman arrived he found Jimenez already there, and that he had founded a city called Santa Fé, and two other towns, the names of which I do not remember. After Federman reached the place where the licentiate Jimenez was established, Belalcazar joined them from Peru, and all three agreed to depart, and went by the great river of Santa Martha and Carthagena to this coast, and each one gave the account which suited him. A brother of the licentiate remained in Bogota as governor, and while he was there Geronimo Lebron was placed at Santa Martha by the Audience of Santo Domingo, as governor, until His Majesty should appoint another. As he of Bogota had been turned out by the people and captains, Lebron desired that they should receive him; but they refused to comply, so he returned. This province was among the best, the richest, and the most populous in the Indies, and as the captains were not sure that they would not be turned out of their