Ch. V. SOUTH AMERICA. 99 



In manners and cuiloms, the inhabitants of Porto 

 Bello relcmblc thofc of Carthagcna, except that the 

 latter are more free and generous, thofe in the parts 

 round Port Bello being acculcd of avarice ; a vice 

 natural to all the inhabitants of thefe countries. 



Provisions are fcarce at Porto Bello, and confe- 

 quently dear, particularly during the time of the gal- 

 leons and the fair, when there is a neceffity for a fup- 

 ply Trom Carllíagena and Panama. From the former 

 arc brought maize, rice, cafava, hogs, poultry, and 

 roots; and from tlie latter, cattle. The only thing 

 in plenty here is iifh, of which there is a great va- 

 riety and very good. It alfo abounds in fugar-canes, 

 fo that the cliacaras, or farm-houfes, if they may be 

 io called, are built of them. They have alfo inge- 

 nios * for making fugar and molalTes, and, from the 

 latter, brandy. 



Fresh water pours down in ftrean>6 from the moun- 

 tains, forae running without the town, and others 

 croiling it. Thefe waters are very light and digeftive, 

 and, in thofe v^'hoare ufed to them, good to create an 

 appetite. Qualities, which in other countries would 

 be very valuable, are here pernicious. This country 

 fcemsfo curfed by nature, that v/hat is in itfelf good, 

 becomes here deih'u6tive. For, doubtlefs, this water 

 is too fine and a61ive for the flomachs of the inhabit- 

 ants ; and thus produces dyfenterics, the lail fíage 

 of all other diflempers, and which the patient very 

 ieldom furvives. Thefe rivulets, in their defcent from 

 the mountains, form little refcrvoirs, or ponds, whofe 

 coolnefs is increafed by the (hade of the trees, and in 

 thefe all the inhabitants of the town bathe themfelves 

 conftantly every day at eleven in the morning ; and 

 the Europeans fail not to follow an example fo plea- 

 fant and conducive to health. 



* Ingenio fignines the mill, ftill, and apparatus, for making fugar, 

 rum, SiC. A. 



H z As 



