94 A VOYAGE TO Book II. 



deiiroys the vigour of nature, and often untimely cuts 

 the thread of life. It is a current opinion, thai ior- 

 nierly, and even not above twenty years iince, partu- 

 rition was here fo dangerous, that it was feldom any 

 women did not die in childbed. As foon therefore as 

 they had advanced three or four months in their preg- 

 nancy, they werefenttoPanar» a, where they continued 

 till the danger of dHivery was paft. A few indeed 

 had the firmnefs to wait their dcfliny in their own 

 hoLifes ; but much the greater number thought it more 

 advifable to undertake the journey, than to run fo 

 great a hazard of their lives. 



The excefiive love which á lady had for her huf- 

 band, blended with a dread that he would forget her 

 during her abfence, his employment not permitting 

 him to accompany her to Panama, determined her to 

 fet the firfí example of acting contrary to this general 

 cuftom. The reafons for her fear were fufficient to 

 juflify her refolution to run the rilk of a probable 

 danger, in order to avoid an evil which ihe knew to 

 be certain, and mufl: have embittered the whole re- 

 mainder of her life. The event was happy ; fhe was 

 delivered, and recovered her former health ; and the 

 example of a lady of her rank did not fail of infpiring 

 others with the like courage, though not founded on 

 the fame reafons; till, by degrees, the dread which i[or- 

 mer melancholy cafes had impreíTed on the mind, and 

 gave occafíon to this climate's being coniidered as fatal 

 to pregnant women, was entirely difperfed. 



Another opinion equally firange is, that the ani- 

 mals from other climates, on their being brought to 

 Porto Bello, ceale to procreate. The inhabitants bring 

 inftances of hens brought from Panama or Cartha- 

 gena, which immediately on their arrival grew bar- 

 ren, and laid no more eggs ; and even at this very 

 time the horned cattle fent from Panama, after they 

 have been here a fhort time, lofc their fleih fo as not 

 to be eatable ; though they do not want for plenty of 



good 



