366 ULLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 



though the fatigues and irregularities among the feamen were the fame : nor was there 

 any perceivable change in the air. This happy fingularity was attributed to the flay of 

 the fquadron at Carthagena, where they pafled the time of the epidemia, by which 

 their conflitutions were better adapted to this climate ; and hence it appears, that the 

 principal caufe of thefe diftempers flows from the conflitutions of the Europeans not 

 being ufed to it ; and thus they either die, or become habituated to it, like the natives, 

 Creoles, and other inhabitants. 



CHAP. V. — Account of the Inhabitants and Country about Porto Belh. 



IN feveral particulars there is no effential difference between Carthagena and Porto 

 Bello ; fo that I fhall only mention thofe peculiar to the latter ; and add fome obferva- 

 tions, tending to convey a more exa£l knowledge of this country. 



The number of the inhabitants of Porto Bello, by reafon of its fmallnefs, and the 

 inclemency of its climate, is very inconfiderable, and the greater part df thefe, Negroes 

 and Mulattos, there being fcarce thirty white families ; thofe, who by commerce or 

 their eflates are in eafy circumftances, removing to Panama. So that thofe only flay at 

 Porto Bello, whofe employments oblige them to it ; as the governor or lieutenant-general, 

 the commanders of the forts, the civil officers of the crown, the officers and foldiers of 

 the garrifons, the alcaldes in office and of the hermandad, and the town clerk. Dur- 

 ing our flay here, the garrifons of the forts confifled of about one hundred and twenty- 

 five men, being detachments from Panama ; and thefe, though coming from a place 

 fo near, are affected to fuch a degree, that in lefs than a month they are fo attenuated, 

 as to be unable to do any duty, till cuflom again reflores them to their ftrength. None 

 of thefe, or of the natives of the country, above the Mulatto clafs, ever fettle here, 

 thinking it a difgrace to live in it : a certain proof of its unhealthinefs, fince thofe to 

 whom it gave birth forfake it. 



In manners and cuftoms, the inhabitants of Porto Bello refemble thofe of Carthagena, 

 except that the latter are more free and generous, thofe in the parts round Porto Bello 

 being accufed of avarice ; a vice natural to all the inhabitants of thefe countries. 



Provifions are fcarce at Porto Bello, and confequently dear, particularly during the 

 time of the galleons and the fair, when there is a neceffity for a fupply from Cartha- 

 gena and Panama. From the former are brought maize, rice, cafava, hogs, poultry, 

 and roots ; and from the latter, cattle. The only thing in plenty here is fifh, of which 

 there is great variety, and very good. It alfo abounds in fugar-canes, fo that the 

 chacaras, or farm-houfes, if they may be fo called, are built of them. They have alfo 

 ingenios * for making fugar and molaffes, and, from the latter, brandy. 



Frefh water pours down in flreams from the mountains, fome running without the 

 town, and others croffing it. Thefe waters are very light and digeflive, and, in thofe 

 who are ufed to them, good to create an appetite ; qualities, which in other coun- 

 would be very valuable, are here pernicious. This country feems fo curfed by nature, 

 tries that what is in itfelf good, becomes here deflrudive. For, doubtlefs, this 

 water is too fine and aflive for the flomachs of the inhabitants ; and thus produces 

 dyfenteries, the lafl flage of all other diftempers, and which the patient very feldom 

 furvives. Thefe rivulets, in their defcent from the mountains, form little refervoirs, or 

 ponds, whofe coolnefs is increafed by the fhade of the trees, and in thefe all the inha- 



* Ingenio fignifies the mill, flill, and apparatus, for making fugar, rum, &c. A. 



2 bitants 



