ULLOA's voyage to south AMEPtltJA. 363 



fo unprovided with every thing, that the greater part of the artillery, efpecially that 

 of the caflle de Todo Fierro, or iron caftle, was difmounted for want of carriages, 

 part of the few mihtary ftores unferviceable, and the garrifon (hort of its complement 

 even in time of peace. The governor of the city, Don Bernardo Gutierrez de Boca- 

 negra, was alfo abfent at Panama, onfome accufation brought againft him. Thus the 

 Englifli meeting no refiftance, eafily fucceeded in their defign upon this city, which 

 furrendered by capitulation. 



The anchoring-place for the large fhips is north-weft of Gloria caftle, which is nearly 

 the centre of the harbour ; but leiTer veftels which come farther up, muft be careful 

 to avoid a fand-bank, lying one hundred and fifty toifes from St. Jerome's fort, or 

 point, bearing from it weft one quarter northerly ; and on which there is only a fathom 

 and a half, or at moft, two fathom water. 



North- weft of the town is a little bay, called la Caldera, or the kettle, having four 

 fathom and a half water ; and is a very proper place for careening fhips and vefTels, as, 

 befides its depth, it is perfectly defended from all winds. In order to go into it, you 

 muft keep pretty clofe to the weftern fhore till about a third part of the breadth of the 

 entrance, where you will have five fathom water (whilft on the eaftern fide of the fame 

 entrance, there is not above two or three feet), and then fteer diredly towards the 

 bottom of the bay. When the fhips are in, they may moor with four cables eaft and 

 weft, in a fmall bafon formed by the Caldera ; but care muft be taken to keep them 

 always on the weftern fide. 



North-eaft of the town is the mouth of a river called Cafcajel, which affords no frefh 

 water within a quarter of a league or upwards from its mouth ; and it is not i: com- 

 mon to fee in it Caymanes, or alligators. 



The tides are here irregular ; and in this particular, as well as that of the wands, 

 there is no difference between this harbour and that of Carthagena ; except that here 

 th^ fhips muft always be towed in, being either becalmed, or the wind diredly againft 

 them. 



From obfervations we made, both by the pole-ftar and the fun's azimuth, we found 

 the variation of the needle in this harbour to be 8* 4' eafterly. 



Among the mountains which furround the whole harbour of Porto Bello, beginning 

 from St. Philip de Todo Fierro, or the iron caftle (which is fituated on their declivity), 

 and without any decreafe of height, extends to the oppofite point, one is particularly 

 remarkable for its fuperior loftinefs, as if defigned to be the barometer of the country, 

 by foretelling every change of weather. This mountain, diftinguifhed by the name of 

 Capiro, ftands at the utmoft extremity of the harbour, in the road to Panama. Its top 

 is always covered with clouds of a denfity and darknefs feldom feen in thofe of thi§ 

 atmofphere ; and from thefe, which are called the capillo or cap, has poffibly been 

 corruptly formed the name of Monte Capiro. When thefe clouds thicken, increafe 

 their blacknefs, and fmk below their ufual ftation, it is a fure fign of a tempeft ; while 

 on the other hand, their clearnefs and afcent as certainly indicate the approach of fair 

 weather. It muft however be remembered, that thefe changes are very frequent and 

 very fudden. It is alfo feldom that the fummit is ever obferved clear from clouds j and 

 when this does happen, it is only as it were, for an inftant. 



The jurifdiftion of the governor of Porto Bello is limited to the town and the forts ; 

 the neighbouring country, over which it might be extended, being full of mountains 

 covered with impenetrable forefts, except a few vallies, in which are thinly fcattered 

 fome farms or Aaciendas ; the nature of the country not admitting of farther improve- 

 ments. 



3 A 2 CHAP. 



