8« A VOYAGE TO Book II. 



CHAP. II. 



Defer iption of the Town of St. Philip de Porto Bello. 



THE town of St. Philip de Porto Bello, according 

 to our obiervations, ftands in (f 34' 2s" "«'''h la- 

 titude ; and by the obiervations of father Feuillce, in 

 the longitude of 277° 50' from the meridian of Paris, 

 and 2,9^^° 41' from the Pico of Tcneriffc. This har- 

 bour was difcovered on the 2d oí November 1502 by 

 Chriflopher Columbus, who was lb charmed with its 

 extent, depth, and fccurity, that he gave it the name 

 of Porto Bello, or the fine harbour. Id the profrcunon 

 of his dilboveries, he arrived at that which he calied 

 Baflimentos, where, in 1310, was founded by Di^^go 

 de Niqueza the city of Nombre de Dios, " the name 

 **ofGod;" fo called from the commander having 

 faid to his people on his landing, " Here we will make 

 *' a fettiement in the name of God," which was ac- 

 cordingly ex^^cuted. But this place was, in its infancy, 

 entirely defiroyed by the Indians of Darien. Some 

 years after, the fettiement was repaired, and the in- 

 habitants maintained their ground till 1584, when 

 orders arrived from Philip II. lor their removing to 

 Porto Bello ; as much better fituated for the com- 

 merce of that countiy. 



Porto Bello was taken and plundered by John 

 Morgan, an Englilh adventurer, who infefied thofe 

 feas ; but, in coniideration of a ranfom, he fpared the 

 forts and houles. 



The town ol Porto Bello ílands near the fca, on the 

 declivity of a mountain which furrounds the whole 

 harbour. Molt of the hoafes are bililt of wood. \n. 

 lome the firfl ftory is of none, and the remainder of 

 wood. They are about 130 in number ; molt of them 

 large and fpacious. The town is under the jurifdic- 

 a tion 



