THE
HIST
o
R Y
O F
A M E R
I
C A.
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VI.
From the time that Nugnez de Balboa difco-vered the great Southern Ocean , and received thefirft oblcure hints concerning the opulent coun-tries with which it might open a communication,the wifhes and fchemes of every enterprifmg per-fon in the colonies of Darien and Panama wereturned towards the wealth of thofe unknown re-gions. In an age when the fpirit of adventure was,fo ardent and vigorous, that large fortunes werewafted , and the moft alarming dangers braved, inpurfuit of difcoveries merely poftible, the fainteftray of hope was followed with eager expectation,and the flightcft information was fufficient to in-fpire fuch perfect confidence, as conducted men tothe moft arduous undertakings
Accordingly , feveral armaments were fittedout in order to explore and take pofleflion of thecountries to the eaft of Panama , but under the
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Unfuecers-ful for fom«time.
* See NOTE I.
VOL. III.
B