If they left in due season, nothing would be lost, nor any soldier either, in the short passage which must be made, in order to embark at Panama from Cruces, a distance of five leguas.

One can reach that place in boats by means of a river.

In the same way, all the things shipped here from Espana can be transported, thus saving the vast sum generally incurred by the freight charges and carriage of the goods in Nueva Espana.

This expense is caused by the long and dangerous road to Acapulco, and the rather long space of time from the arrival of the trading fleet at the beginning of September until the departure of our ships at the last of March--both in what the infantry consume and waste, and in those men of it who are lost.
There will also be another advantage if your Majesty should be pleased to locate there [_i.e._, at Panama] the reenforcements of money and provisions for these forts.

For if the ships from this country, by any misfortune or other occasion for delay, should not arrive, as many ships as were needed could be obtained there, ready, in which to send the ordinary and even extraordinary succor that your Majesty might despatch; while in Acapulco there would be no such facility, or even possibility, in addition to the long and most costly voyage of the ships despatched thence.