TIERRA FIRM A. 15 



Befides thefe tribunals, the policy and adminiftration of jufti.ce in the city, 

 is under a fecular magiftracy, confifting of regidores, out of whom every 

 year are chofen two alcaldes. There is alfo an office of revenue under an 

 accomptant and treafurer, where the taxes and monies belonging to the king 

 are received, and proper iflues diredled. A perfon of the law alfo refides 

 here, with the title of Auditor de la Gente de Guerrat who determines pro- 

 cefles. 



Carthagena bay is one of the beft in this country. It extends two leagues 

 and a half from north to fouth, and has fafe anchorage, though the many 

 lliallows at the entrance make a careful fleerage neceffary. It abounds 

 with great variety of fifh, the moft common are the (had and turtle ; 

 but it is alfo infefled with a great number of fharks. In this bay the galleons 

 from Spain wait for the arrival of the Feru fleet at Panama, and on the firft 

 advice of this they fail away for Puerto Velo ; but at the end of the fair held 

 at that town, return into this bay, and after victualling, put to fea again im- 

 mediately. Duriri:>; thcii , rftnce the bay is very little frequented ; the coun- 

 try veffels, ^vh:c;V. r.J 'sjly a few bilanders and feluccas, flay no longer than 

 to careen and lit out for fea. 



The climate is very hot from May to November ^ which is the winter 

 here ; there is almoft a continual fucceflion of thunder, rain, and tempefts ; 

 fo that the ftreets have tlie appearance of rivers, and the cotintry of an ocean i 

 from this, otherwife (hocking inconvenience, they fave water in refervoirs, 

 as the wells fupply them only with a thick, brackifh fort, not fit to drink. 

 From December to J.pril is the fummer here, in which there is an invariable 

 continuation of exceflive heat, which makes the complexions of the inhabi- 

 tants fo wan and livid, that one would imagine them but newly recovered 

 from a violent fit of ficknefs : yet they enjoy a good ftate of health, and live 

 even to eighty and upwards. The fingularity of the climate occafions dif- 

 tempers as peculiar; the moft (hocking is the fever, attended with the black 

 vomit, which moftly afi^efts fir angers, and rages among the ieamen ; it 

 lafls about three or four days, in which time the patient either recovers or 

 dies, (for it is very acute) and on recovery he is never troubled with it again. 

 Another diflemper peculiar to the inhabitants is the mal de fan Lazaroy or 



* leprofy 



