Ch. V. SOUTH AMERÍCz\. 45 



In 1729, Don Domingo J uítiniani, coramodore of the 

 guarda coítas, loíl fo conñderable a part of his fhips' 

 companies at Santa Martha, that the lurvivors were 

 flruckwith aflonifliment and horror at thehavock made 

 among their comrades. In 1730, when the galleons 

 under Don Manuel Lopez Pintado came to Carthagcna, 

 the fearacn were fcized with tlie lame dreadful morta- 

 lity ; and fo fudden were the attacks of the difeaie, that 

 perfons" walking about one day, were the next carried 

 to their graves. 



The inhabitants of Carthagena, together with thofe 

 in the whole extent of its government, are very fubjeil 

 to the mal de San Lázaro, or leprofy, which feemsítill 

 to gain ground. Some phyficians attribute the pre- 

 valence of it to pork, which is here a very common 

 food ; but it may be objeóled, that in other countries, 

 where this flefh is as frequently eaten, no fuch eifects 

 are feen, whence it evidently appears that fome latent 

 quality of the climate mufl alfo contribute to it. In 

 order to flop the contagion of this diilemper, there is 

 without the city, an hofpital called San Lázaro, not 

 far from the hill on which is a caille of the fame name. 

 In this hofpital all perfons of both fexes labouring un- 

 der this diilemper are confined, without any diflinc- 

 tion of age or rank ; and if any refufe to go, they 

 arc foicibly carried thither. But here the diliemper 

 increafes among themfelves, they being permitted to 

 intermarry, by which means it is rendered perpetual, 

 Befides, their allowance being here toofcanty to fub- 

 liil on, they are permitted to beg in the city; and 

 from their iniercourfe with thofe in health, the num- 

 ber of lepers never decreafcs, and is at prefent fo con- 

 iiderable, that their hofpital refembles a little town. 

 Every perfon at his entering this firu(5lure, where he 

 is to continue during life, builds a cottage called in the 

 country bujio, proportional to his ability, where he 

 lives in the fame manner as before in his houfe, the 

 ""prohibition of not going beyond the limits prefcribed 



him^ 



