S2 A VOYAGE TO Book I. 



thefe would be fufficient to anfwer the demand. Be- 

 iides, the inland merchants ran the hazard of not meet- 

 ing at Cariliascna with goods llifficitnt, in quality 

 and quantity, to aniwcr their charges ; and were fome- 

 times adlually obliged to return with the money, and 

 the vexation of a fruitlefs, though expenfive, journey. 

 Thefe inconveniences produced a repeal of the pro- 

 hibition, and commerce was placed on the prcfent 

 equitable footing. 



This little fair at Carthagena, for lb it may be 

 called, occañons a great quantity of fhops to be 

 opened, and filled with all kinds of merchandiie ; the 

 profit partly rcfiilting to Spaniards who come in the 

 galleons, and are either recommended to, or are in 

 partnerfhip with, the Cargadores ; and partly to thofc 

 already fettled in that city. The Cargadores furnilh 

 the former with goods, though to no great value, in 

 order to gain their cufiom ; and the latter, as perfons 

 whom they have already experienced to be good men ; 

 and both in proportion to the quicknefs of their fale. 

 This is a time of univerfal profit ; to fome by letting 

 lodgings and fhops, to fome by the increafe of iheir 

 refpeótive trades, and to others by the labour of their 

 Negro naves, whofe pay alfo is proportionally in- 

 crealcd, as they do more work in this bufy time. By 

 this briik circulation through all the feveral ranks, 

 they frequently get a furplus of money beyond what is 

 fufficient for providing themfelves with neceflaries. 

 And it is not uiicommon for fiaves, out of their fav- 

 ings, and after paying their mafiers the daily tribute, 

 to purchafe their freedoms. 



This affluence extends to the neighbouring villages, 

 eftancias, and the moil wretched chácaras, of this ju- 

 rifdiiition.; for, by the increafe of fi rangers to a fourth, 

 third, and fomelimcs one half, of thcufual number of 

 people, the contumption, and conlequently the price 

 of provifions, advances, which is, of courfe, no fraall 

 advantage to thofe who bring them to market. 



3 Thi9 



