364 ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 



CHAP. IV. — Of the Climate of Porto Bello^ and the Di/iempers which prove fo fatal 



to the Crews of the Galleons, 



THE inclemency of the climate of Porto Bello is fufficiently known all over Europe. 

 Not only ftrangers who come thither are affefted by it, but even the natives themfelves 

 fuffer in various manners. It deftroys the vigour of nature, and often untimely cuts 

 the thread of life. It is a current opinion, that formerly, and even not above twenty 

 years fmce, parturition was here fo dangerous, that it was feldom any women did not^ 

 die in child-bed. As foon therefore as they had advanced three or four months in their 

 pregnancy, they were fent to Panama, where they continued till the danger of deli- 

 very was paft. A few indeed had the firmnefs to wait their defliny in their ovm houfes ; 

 but much the greater number thought it more advifablfe to undertake the journey, than 

 to run fo great a hazard of their lives. 



The excellive love which a lady had for her hufband, blended with a dread that he 

 would forget her during her abfence, his employment not permitting him to accompany 

 her to Panama, determined her to fet the firll example of afting contrary to this general 

 cuftom. The reafons for her fear were fufficient to jullify her refolution to run the rilk 

 of a probable danger, in order to avoid an evil which Ihe knew to be certain, and muft 

 have embittered the whole remainder of her life. The event was happy ; fhe was delivered, 

 and recovered her former health j and the example of a lady of her rank did not fail of 

 infpiring others with the like courage, though not founded on the fame reafons ; till, by 

 degrees, the dread which former melancholy cafes had imprelTed on the mind, and gave 

 occafion to this climate's being confidered as fatal to pregnant women, was entirely 

 difperfed. 



Another opinion equally ftrange is, that the animals from other climates, on their 

 being brought to Porto Bello, ceafe to procreate. The inhabitants bring inflances, of 

 hens brought from Panama or Carthagena, which immediately on their arrival grew 

 barren, and laid no more eggs j and even at this very time, the horned cattle fent from 

 Panama, after they have been here a fhort time, lofe their flefh fo as not to be eatable j 

 though they do not want for plenty of good pafture. It is certain that there are no 

 horfes or afles bred here, which tends to confirm the opinion that this climate checks the 

 generation of creatures produced in a more benign or lefs noxious air. However, not 

 to rely on the common opinion, we inquired of fome intelligent perfons, who differed 

 but very little from the vulgar, and even confirmed what they aflerted, by many known 

 fafts, and experiments performed by themfelves. 



The liquor in Mr. Reaumur's thermometer, on the 4th of December 1735, at fix 

 in the morning, ilood at 1021, and at noon rofe to 1023. 



The heat here is exceffive, augmented by the fituation of the town, which is fur- 

 rounded by high mountains, without any interval for the winds, whereby it might be 

 refreftied. The trees on the mountains fland 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 precipitate in violent torrents 

 of rain ; thefe are no fooner over, than the fun breaks forth afrefh, and fhines with its 

 former fplendour ; though fcarce has the adivity of his rays dried the furface of the 

 ground not covered by the trees, when the atmofphere is again crowded by another 

 colledion of thick vapours, and the fun again concealed. Thus it continues during the 

 whole day : the night is fubjeft to the Uke viciflitudes ; but without the leaft diminution 

 of heat in either. 



Thefe 



