10 



THE COAST OF 



as to the lands they are common to all, and they have only a property in the 

 ground round their houfes, which is enclofed by a fence. 



As loon as the Spani/b galleons are feen at this port, expreffes are fern 

 ^o all the fettlements in the country, to give them notice to prepare their 

 treafure for the fairs of Carthagena and Puerto Veto, Its harbour is quite 

 open, and has no defence againft the northern winds. The diftrid of Rio 

 de la Hacha is very fruitful ; produces much gold and precious ftones, and 

 abounds in fait. Formerly a pearl fifhery was carried on near this town, 

 which brought great riches to its inhabitants. 



Santa MARTHA, 



IS 40 leagues north eaft from Carthagena, the capital of a province of the 

 fame name, fituated near the fea, in a very wholefome fpot, and at the foot 

 of one of thofe prodigious mountains which are a part or continuation of the 

 Cordillera or Andes, whofe fummits are generally hidden in the clouds; but 

 in clear weather, when the tops appear, are covered with fnow. The city 

 was formerly very populous, but is now much decayed, occafioned by the 

 Spanijlj fleet's not touching there, as they anciently ufed to do. The houfes, 

 in general, are built with canes, and covered with palmetto leaves, and 

 fome with pantiles. The governor of the province, together with the other 

 officers, refides here. It is the fee of a bifliop, fufFragan to the metropolitan 

 of New Granada. The inhabitants trade with the Indians in the neighbour- 

 hood, who bring hither earthen ware and cotton fluffs. The country round 

 the city produces but few cattle, being extremely mountainous; and the 

 Spaniards who inhabit it are but few. 



Sir Francis Ureike in 1525, entirely ruined this town ; the next year Sir 

 Anthony Shirley i^\\m^z'it^\X. In 1630 it was ravaged by the Dutch, and 

 fince has been taken feveral times by our buccaneers, which had fo impove- 

 dfhed the place, that in 168 1 they fcarcely thought it worth pillaging. 



At a league and a half diftant from Santa Martha are large falt-ponds, 

 from whence they extrad very good fait, and carry it into the neighbouring 



provinces. 



