Darien (Panama)

Darién , eastern part of Panama between the Gulf of Darién on the east and the Gulf of San Miguel on the west. Darién province, heavily forested and sparsely populated, is in the western part of the region. Formerly the name was frequently used to mean the entire isthmus of Panama. In 1513, Vasco Núñez de Balboa led an expedition across Darién and became the first European to view the Pacific Ocean from the New World. Keats referred to this exploit in his poem "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer" but confused Balboa with Hernán Cortés.

Darien venture Previous Scottish attempts to establish colonies had been small scale, but the Company of Scotland, established in 1695, had grand ideas. It aimed at raising £400,000—perhaps half the capital in Scotland. Five ships were equipped, 1,200 men enrolled, and the expedition sailed in July 1698. After a difficult voyage of three months, the ships reached Darien on the isthmus of Panama, found some friendly Indians, and began building New Edinburgh. But what appeared at first sight an earthly paradise was in reality a fever‐ridden swamp. On 22 June 1699 the colonists evacuated. A second expedition found deserted huts and hundreds of graves. After four months they surrendered to a Spanish force. The disaster for a small country was shattering.