0^8 ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 



1736, at fix in the morning, they found the liquor at io2o|, at noon 1023I, and at 

 three in the afternoon at 1025. But, at the fame time, it muft be obferved, that the 

 brifas now began to blow, and, confequently it was not the time of the greatefl heats ; 

 thefe prevailing in the months of Auguft, September, and Odober. 



Though this climate would naturally be fuppofed to produce the fame plants with 

 others in the fame latitude, it is very different. Nor does this feem to proceed from 

 any defed in the foil, but from the fondnefs of the inhabitants for trade, and their total 

 negleft of agriculture, as too laborious. But, be the real caufe of it what it will, this 

 is certain, that even in the parts contiguous to the city, the land is left entirely to nature ; 

 nor does the lead veftige remain of its being formerly cultivated. From hence proceeds 

 a fcarcity of all things, and, confequently, they are fold at a high price. Here are no 

 pulfe or pot-herbs of any kind ; and that this is not owing to the flerility of the earth, 

 we had an evident proof in a fmall garden, belonging to a Gallician, where all things of 

 this kind were produced in great plenty. By this means Panama is under a neceflity of 

 being fiipplied with every thing, either from the coaft of Peru, or places in its own 

 jurifdidion. * 



CHAP. IV. — Of the ujual Food of the Inhabitants of Panama. 



THE very want of provifions caufes the tables at Panama to be better furniftied ; 

 and it may be truly faid, that this city fubfifts wholly by commerce, whatever is con- 

 fumed in 'it coming from other places. The fhips of Peru are continually employed in 

 exporting goods from that country, and the coafting barks in bringing the produds 

 of the feveral places in its jurifdidion and that of Veraguas. So that Panama is plenti- 

 fully furniflied with the bed of wheat, maize, poultry, and cattle. Whether it be 

 ov/ing to the fuperior goodnefs of their food, the temperament of the climate, or to 

 fome other caufe to me unknown, it is certain that the inhabitants of this city are not 

 fo meagre and pale as thofe who live at Carthagena and Porto Bello. 



Their common food is a creature called Guana. It is amphibious, living equally on 

 the land and in the water. It refembles a lizard in fhape, but is fomething larger, being 

 generally above a yard in length : fome are confiderably bigger, others lefs. It is of 

 a yellowifh green colour, but of a brighter yellow on the belly than on the back, where 

 the green predominates. It has four legs like a lizard ; but its claws are much longer 

 in proportion ; they are joined by a web, which covers them, and is of the fame form as 

 thofe of geefe, except that the talons at the end of the toes are much longer, and 

 projed entirely out of the web or membrane. Its (kin is covered with a thin fcale 

 adhering to it, which renders it rough and hard ; and, from the crown of its head to 

 the beginning of its tail, which is generally about half a yard, runs a Hne of vertical 

 fcales, each fcale being from one to two lines in breadth, and three or four in length, 

 feparated fo as to reprefent a kind of faw. But from the end of the neck to the root 

 of the tail, the fcales gradually leflen, fo as, at the latter part, to be fcarce vifible. 

 Its belly is, in largenefs, very difproportionable to its body ; and its teeth feparated, 

 and very fharp pointed. On the water it rather walks than fwims, being fupported 

 by the webs of its feet ; and on that element its fwiftnefs is fuch, as to be out of fight 

 in an inftant j whereas on the land, though far from moving heavily, its celerity is 

 greatly lefs. When pregnant, its belly fwells to an enormous fize; and, indeed, 

 they often lay fixty eggs at a time, each of which is as large as thofe of a pigeon. 

 Thefe are reckoned a great dainty, not only at Panama, but in other parts where this 



xo creature 



