TIERRA FIRM A. 



9 



/ped of the lake. Kere are about 4000 inhabitants, of which 800 

 arc p.blr' Lo bear arms. The Governor is fubordinate to the Governor of Tierra 

 Firma. Here is a large parochial church, an hofpital, and four convents. 

 VelTels under 30 tons are continually coming hither, with manufadures and 

 merchandifes from the places near the lake, which are bought up by \hz Spa- 

 niards for other markets. Ships are built at Maracaibo^ which trade all over 

 America^ this place being very commodious for fhip-building. The lake, 

 or rather gulf, on which the town ftands is near 140 miles long, and, in 

 fome parts, 40 in breadth, running from fouth to north, and emptying itfcif 

 into the North Sea. There is a bar at the entrance, which is well de- 

 fended by ftrong forts; Sir Henry Morgan palTed by them, plundered feve- 

 ral Spanijh towns on the coafts, and defeated a fquadron which had been 

 fent to intercept him. 



As the tide flows into this lake, its water is fomething brackidi, notwith- 

 ftanding the many rivers it receives. It abounds with all forts of fifli, fome of 

 which are very large. By the navigation of this lake the inhabitants of Ve7ie- 

 zuela carry on a trade with thofe of New Granada. 



Rio de la HACHA. 



IS the capital of a province bearing the fame name, and lies about 40 

 leagues eaft of Santa Martha. The Spajiiards formerly called it Niiejira 

 Senora de los Nieves,- a^d afterwards De los Remedios. It is lituated on the banks 

 of the Rio de la Hacha^ near the fea coaft, and upon a little hill. It con- 

 tains not much above 100 houfes. 



This tov^ n has been feveral times taken by the buccaneers, the Spaniards 

 were at 1 aft fo diflieartened, thst in 1682 they deferted it, but within a fhort 

 time after fettled here again, and have fmce fortified it. 



In the open country the Indians are free from t\\QSpa?ii/h yoke, though they 

 permit their priefts to viiit them. They fublifl; chiefly by grazing their cat- 

 tle, every man marking his own, and thereby fecuring his property ; but 



C as 



