1^4 A VOTKGE TO Book IV. 



kinds,- and generally before them fpacio'us porticoes, 

 which in winter are the only parts where you can 

 walk, the ilreets being utterly impaflable. 



As a further precaution againft fire, which they 

 have fo much reafon to dread, the kitchens itand 

 twelve or fifteen paces from the houfcs, with which 

 they communicate by means of a long open gallery, 

 refembling a bridge ; butfo lightly built, that, on the 

 lean appearance of tire in the kitchen, it is demoliñied 

 in an inftant ; by which means the houfe is preferved. 

 Perfons of rank and fortune live in the upper apart- 

 ments, and the entrefoles are let to ftrangers who 

 come to trade, or pals through the city with their 

 goods. 



The ground on which the new city is built, and the 

 favannahs in its neighbourhood, are not to be travel- 

 led over either on foot or horfeback during the win- 

 ter ; for, beiides being a fpongy chalk, it is every 

 where fo level, that there is no declivity for carrying 

 off the water ; and therefore, on the íiríl rain, it be- 

 comes one general nough. So that, from the time of 

 the- rains fetting in till llje end of winter, it is necef- 

 fdry- to lay in the parts not covered by the above- 

 mentioned piazzas, very large planks for croffing 

 over them; bat ihcfc foon become flippery, and oe- 

 cáíion frequent falls into the chalky ilough. The 

 return of fummcr, hovvcver, loon exhales the water, 

 and renders the ground fuificiently dry for travelling. 

 In this refpeét the old town has Üie advantage^ being 

 built on a gravelly toil, which is never- impaflable. 



This city is defended by three forts, two on the 

 river near' the city, and the third behind it, guarding 

 the entrance of a ravine. Thefe arc all built after the 

 niolfcrn method of tortification ; but, before they were 

 eru<^ed, it had only a platform, which is ftill remain- 

 ing In the old town, Thefe forts are built of large 

 pieces of very Jiard wood, forming a variety of pal- 

 iiikdes, and the wood, lis particularly proper for this 



country, 



