338 ULLOA'3 voyage to south AMERICA. 



Catafalco, erefted on the principal apartment of the houfe, amidft a blaze of tapers. 

 In this manner the corpfe lies twenty-four hours or longer, for friends to vifit it at all 

 hours ; as alfo the lower clafs of women, among whom it is a cuftom to lament over 

 the deceafed. 



Thefe women, who are generally dreffed in black, come in the evening, or during 

 the night, into the apartment where the corpfe lies ; and having approached it, throw 

 themfelves on their knees, then rife and extend their arms as to embrace it j after 

 which, they begin their lamentations in a doleful tone, mixed with horrid cries, which 

 always conclude with the name of the deceafed : afterwards they begin, in the fame 

 difagreeable vociferations, his hiftory, rehearfmg all his good and bad qualities, not 

 even omitting his amours of any kind, and in fo circumftantial a narrative, that a gene- 

 ral confeffion could hardly be more full 5 at length, quite fpent, they withdraw to a 

 corner ftored with brandy and wine, on which they never fail plentifully to regale 

 themfelves. As thefe depart from the body, others fucceed, till they have all taken 

 their turn. The fame, afterwards is repeated by the fervants, flaves, and acquaintance 

 of the family, which continues without intermiflion during the remainder of the night ; 

 whence may eafily be imagined the confufion and noife occafioned by this difmal voci- 

 ferous ceremony. 



The funeral alfo is accompanied with the like noify lamentations ; and even after the 

 corpfe is depofited in thegrave, the mourning is continued in the houfe for nine days, 

 during^ which time the Pacientes or mourners, whether men or women, never ftir 

 from the apartment, where they receive the Pefanes, or compliments of condolence. 

 During nine nights, from fun-fet to fun-rifing, they are attended by their relations and 

 intimate acquaintances ; and it may be truly faid of them, that they are all fmcerely 

 forrowful ; the mourners for the lofs of the deceafed, and the vifitors from the uneafi- 

 nefs and fatigue of fo uncomfortable an attendance. 



CHAP. V. — Of the Climate of Carihagena, and the Difeafes incident to Natives and 



Foreigners. 



THE climate of Carthagena is exceffively hot, for by obfervations we made on the 

 19th of November 1735, by a thermometer conftruded according to Mr. Reaumur, 

 the fpirit was elevated to 1025I ; and in our feveral experiments made at different 

 hours, varied only from 1024 to 1026. By experiments made the fame year at Paris 

 ' on a thermometer of the fame gentleman, the fpirit rofe on the 16th of July at three 

 in the afternoon, and on the loth of Augufl at half an hour after three, to 1025I, 

 and this was the greateft degree of heat felt at Paris during that year ; confequently 

 the degree of heat in the hotteft day at Paris, is continual at Carthagena. 



But the nature of this climate chiefly difplays itfelf from the month of May to the 

 end of November, the feafon they call winter ; becaufe during that time, there is almofl 

 a continual fucceflion of thunder, rain, and tempefls ; the clouds precipitating the 

 rain with fuch impetuofity, that the ftreets have the appearance of rivers, and the 

 ccountry of an ocean. The inhabitants make ufe of this opportunity, otherwife fo 

 dreadful, for filling their cifterns ; this being the only fweet water they can procure. 

 Befides the water faved for private ufes, there are large refervoirs on the baftions, that 

 the town may not be reduced to the fhocking confequence of wanting water. There 

 are indeed wells in moft houfes ; but the water being thick and brackifh, is not fit to 

 drink, but ferves for other ufes. 



From 



