of gratitude, besides, to my brother, Mr. Frederick W. Keasbey, who has rendered me invaluable assistance in the preparation of this book for the press, by going over the entire manuscript, in correcting the proof, and in making up the index.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

S 11. $ 12.

INTRODUCTION.

§ I. The Central American Isthmus The Tehuantepec Route

§ 2.

§ 3. The Honduras Route

§ 4. The Nicaragua Routes

5. § 6.

The Chiriqui Route
The Panama Route

$ 7. The San Blas Route

§ 8. The Caledonian Route

$ 9

The Atrato Routes

$10.

A Comparison of the Several Routes
The Honduras and Chiriqui Routes,

The Tehuantepec, San Blas, Caledonian, and Atrato Routes,
The Nicaragua and Panama Routes.

$13.

$14.

ION.

PART ONE.

CHAPTER I.

THE MERCANTILE PERIOD AND THE ABSOLUTE MONARCHY-THE CANAL PROJECT A ROYAL MONOPOLY.

1492-1815.

THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA.

The Movement of the World's Commerce
The Forces Back of this Movement

An Historical Retrospect of the Movement
The Mercantile System

15. Fifteenth-Century Voyages of Discovery

$ 16. The Discoveries of Columbus and his Contemporaries

§ 17. The Pope's Bull and the Treaty of Tordesillas

§ 18.

The New World Thought to be an Island 19. Spanish Colonial Expeditions to the Northwest

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4

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II

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