528 SPANISH AMERICA. 



for its singularly winding course ; the length of which, with all its 

 windings, is estimated at 1500 miles. It is aiso remarkable for rising 

 and falling once a year only; rising gradually during the spacx of 

 five months, continuing stationary one month, and then failing for 

 five months, and again continuing stationary one month. This is 

 probably occasioned by the rains which fall on the mountains called 

 the Andes, where it has its source. 



Metals, minerals. ...There were formerly rich mines of gold 

 here, which are now in a great measure exhausted. The silver, 

 iron, and copper mines, have been since opened, and the inhabitants 

 find emeralds, sapphire;-,, and other precious stones. 



Climate. ...The climate here, particularly in the northern divisions, 

 is extremely hot ; and it was found by Ulloa, that the heat of the 

 warmest day in Paris is continual in Cartna^ena: the excessive heats 

 raise the vapour of the sea, which is precipitated in such rains as 

 seem to threaten a general deluge. Great part of the country, there- 

 fore, is almost continually flooded ; and this, together with the exces- 

 sive heat, so impregnates the air with vapours, that in many provin- 

 ces, particularly about Popayan and Porto Bello, it is extremely un- 

 wholesome. 



Soil and produce. ...The soil of this country, like that of the 

 greater part of South America, is wonderfully rich and fruitful. It 

 is impossible to view, without admiration, the perpetual verdure of 

 the woods, the luxuriancy of the plains, and the towering height of 

 the mountains. This, however, only applies to the inland country, 

 for the coasts are generally barren sand, and incapable of bearing 

 any species of grain. The trees most remarkable for their dimen- 

 sions are the caobo, the cedar, the maria, and balsam tree. The 

 manchineel tree is particularly remarkable : it bears a fruit resembling 

 an apple, but which, under this specious appearance, contains a most 

 subtle poison, against which common oil is found to be the best anti- 

 dote. The habella de Carthagena is the fruit of a species of willow, 

 and contains a kernel resembling an almond, but less white, and ex- 

 tremely bitter. This kernel is found to be an excellent and never- 

 failing remedy for the bite of the most venomous vipers and serpents, 

 which are very frequent all over this country. 



Animals.... In treating of North America, we have taken notice of 

 many of the animals that are found in the southern parts. Among 

 those peculiar to this country, the most remarkable is the Sloth, or, 

 as it is called byway of derision, the Swift Peter. It bears a resem- 

 blance to an ordinary monkey in shape and size, but is of a most 

 wretched appearance, with its bare hams and feet, and its skin all 

 over corrugated. He stands in no need of either chain or hutch, 

 never stirring unless compelled by hunger : and he is said to be seve- 

 ral minutes in moving one of his legs, nor will blows make him mend 

 his pace. When he moves, every effort is attended with such a plain- 

 tive, and at the same time so disagreeable a cry, as at once produces 

 pity and disgust. In this cry consists the whole defence of this wretch- 

 ed animal; for on the first hostile approach, it is natural for him to 

 be in motion, which is always accompanied with disgustful howlings, 

 so that his pursuer flies much more speedily in his turn, to be beyond 

 the reach of this horrid noise. When this animal finds no wild fruits 

 on the ground, he looks out with a great deal of pains for a tree well 

 loaded, which he ascends with the utmost uneasiness, moving, and 

 crying, and stopping by turns. At length having mounted, he plucks 



