iio JAMAICA, 



to poifoti its atmofphere. But there feems to be as lid loundation 

 for this conjefture, as for that already menticMied. It aoes not ap- 

 pear, that the inhabitants in the neighbourhood of mines in Eng- 

 land are lefs healthful than thofe of other part.-. The mines of 

 Cornwall are known to emit mineral vapours very copiouflv ; not- 

 withftanding which, Mr. Borlafe affirms the air is extremely 

 iieakhful ; and that the miners in particular, who are mofl expofed 

 to thefe vapours, generally live to a great nge. The town of Po- 

 tofi, in South-America, which is feated at the very foot of the 

 mountain containing tiie famous mines, is remarkably populous 

 and healthy [/]. With far more probability it may be allcdged, 

 that the intercourfe, which has been carried on between this town 

 and the Spanifli ports of Carthagena and Porto Bello, has been fre- 

 quently attended with fatal confequences, by introducing from that 

 unhealthy coaft the mod malignant and deleterious diforders. 

 The inclemency of the climate of Porto Bello is known to all 

 Europe [«] : not only Grangers who come thither are affedled by it ; 

 but even the natives themlelves futfer in various manners. It de- 

 Itroys the vigour of nature, and often untimely cuts the thread of 

 life. The heat of this place is exceflive, being augmented by the 

 lituation of the town, which is furrounded with high mountains, 

 without any interval for the winds, whereby it might be refrefhed. 

 The trees on the mountains (land fo thick, as to intercept the rays 

 of the fun, and confequently hinder them from drying the earth 

 under their branches : hence copious exhalations, which form large 

 clouds, and fall in violent torrents of rain. This continual incle- 

 mency, added to the fatigues of the feamen in unloading the (hips 

 and carrying goods, and their immoderate drinking of Ipirituous 

 liquors, mufl jointly dellroy the beft conftitutions, and tend to pro- 



[/] The inhabitants about Mendip-hills, in Somerfetlhire, which contain the famous leatl-mines, 

 enjoy good health, except fuch only as are employed in fmelting the ore. But, according to fome 

 authors, the American mines are not fo inoffeiifivc in all parts of the continent : and many judi- 

 cious perfons frtfpeft, that the unhealthinefs of Kingfton mull be attributed to thefe mineral 

 fleams, whofe mlafmata impregnate the dews, which are canied down by the land-wind, and de- 

 feend upon the town at night; and, in confinnation of this opinion, they aflert, that the inhabi- 

 tants more often contract ficknefs from expofure to the night-air here, tlian from any other caufe 

 whatever. 



[•<] Ulloa's Voyage to South-America, 



duce 



