84 A VOYAGE TO Book L 



heat of the place. All imports from Spain, as brandy, 

 wine, oil, almonds, raiñns, pay a duty, andaré after- 

 wards fold without any farther charge, except what is 

 paid by retailers, as a tax for their (hop or nail. 



Besides thefe goods, which keep alive this flender 

 inland commerce, here is an ofRce for the affiento of 

 Negroes, whither they are brought, and, as it were, 

 kept as pledges, till fuch perfons as want them on their 

 eilates come to purchafe them ; Negroes being gene- 

 rally employed in huibandry and other laborious coun- 

 try works. This indeed gives fome life to the trade 

 of Carthagena, though it is no weighty article. The 

 produce of the royal revenues in this city not being 

 fufficient to pay and fupport the governor, garrifon, 

 anda great number of other officers, the deficiency is 

 remitted from the treafurers of Santa Fe and Q-uito, 

 under the name of Situado, together with fuch monies 

 asare requinte for keeping up the fortifications, fur- 

 nifhing the artillery, and other expenfes, necefl'ary for 

 the defence of the place and itsfortvS. 



BOOK 



