Note XXII‑23 — Chapter XXII · AFFAIRS IN PANAMÁ. 1551-1600.

Dampier, Voy., i. 158; Ogilby's Am., 235; Harris, Col. Voy., i. 748. 'The city of Panamá received annually some thousand pounds of gold.... There is greater Plenty (gold) in the mines of Santa María—not far off—than within the same Space in any other Part of New Spain, or perhaps in the whole World. Span. Emp. in Amer., 210-13. We have a glimpse of the working of the mines in a report of the expenses in connection with some fifteen of them worked for the king's benefit. At these were employed, in addition to the overseer, the blacksmith and his assistant, one hundred negroes, of whom seventy were freshly imported Africans, and one third of the number were women.' The total expenditure for the year was a little less than $20,000. The several items of expense are given in Veragua, Relac. de las Minas, in Col. Doc. Inéd., xxxi. 365-72.