9? A VOYAGE TO Book II. 



the principal caufe oftheie diftempcrs flows from the 

 conilitutions of the Europeans not being ufed to it ; 

 and thus they either die, or become habituated to it, 

 like the natives, Creoles, and other inhabitants. 



CHAR V. 



Account of the Inhabitants and Country about 

 Porto Bello. 



IN feveral particulars there is no cffential difference 

 between Cartliagena and Porto Bello; fo that I 

 fhall only mention thole peculiar to the latter ; and 

 add foraeoblervations, tending to convey a more exa6t 

 knowledge of this country. 



The number of the inhabitants of Porto Bello, by 

 reafon of its fmallnefs, and the inclemency of its cli- 

 mate, is very inconiiderable, and the greater part of 

 thcfe, Negroes and Mulattos, there being fcarce thirty 

 White families; thofe, who by commerce or their 

 cuates are in eafy circumüances, removing to Panama. 

 So that thofe only ilay at Porto Bello, whofe employ- 

 ments oblige them to it ; as the governor or lieutenant- 

 general, the commanders of the forts, the civil officers 

 of the crown, tiie officers ar.d (bldiers of the gar- 

 rilons, the alcaides in oihcc and of the hermandad, 

 and the town-clerk. During our fiay here, the gar- 

 rifons of the forts coniiued of about 125 men, being 

 detachments from Panama ; and thefe, though coming 

 from a place fo near, are aifccled io fuch a degree, 

 that in lets tlian a month they are lb attenuated, as- to 

 be unable to do any duty, till cuftora again reftores 

 them to their ftrength. None of thefe, or of the na- 

 tives of the country, above the Mulatto clafs, ever 

 fettle here, thinkinji it a dif<irace to. live in it: a cer- 

 tain proof of its unhealthinefs, iince thofe to whom 

 it gave birth forfake it. 



In 



