i8 THE COAST OF 



moft valuable treafure which nature could have beftowed on this country. 

 The fruits peculiar to the country, are the pine-apple, which from its 

 beauty, fmell, and tafle is ftiled by way of preference, the queen of 

 fruits ; the papapays, guanabanas, guayabas, fapotes, mameis, plantanes, 

 cocos, which is a fpecies of the palm-tree, and many, others. X,e- 

 mons are fcarce ; but that defedl is remedied by a great plenty of limes 

 called here futiles, the juice of which the inhabitants^ of Carthagena ufe in 

 all their cookeries. As grapes, almonds and olives are not natural here, the 

 country is deftitute of wine, oil, and raifms, with which it is fupplied from 

 Europe y therefore tliefe articles are exceffively dear, and this want fometimes 

 occafions epidemical diforders among thofe who have been ufed to wine, for 

 being deprived thereof, they often lofe their digeftive faculty. The want of 

 oil is fupplied by hog's lard, and inftead of lamps they ufe tallow-candles, 

 fo that they want oil only for their falads. Among the nobility and better 

 fort their moft luxurious difli is the agico ; which confifls of pork fried, 

 birds of feveral kinds, plantanes, maize paflc, and feafonings made of pi- 

 mento or agi. 



The bay of Carthagena is the firft place in America at which the galleons 

 are allowed to unload at, and therefore enjoys the firfl; fruits of commerce, 

 by the public fales made there. Thofe fales, though not accompanied with 

 all the forms ufed at Porto-Velo fair, are yet very confiderable ; for the 

 traders at Santa Fe, Popayan, and ^ito, lay out not only their v/hole ftock, 

 but alfo the monies entrufted to them by commiffions for fever«l forts of 

 goods, and thofe fpecies of provilions which are mofUy wanted in their re- 

 fpeitive countries. The two provinces of Santa Fe and Popayan have no 

 other way of fupplying themfelves with provifions but from Carthagena. 

 Their traders bring gold and iilver fpecie, ingots, dull, and alfo emeralds ; 

 for, befides the filver mines worked at Santa Fey which daily encreafe by 

 frefh difcoveries, there are, others that yield the finefi: emeralds ; but the 

 value of thofe gems being at prefent fallen in Europey and particularly 

 in Spaiuy the trade of them, formerly fo confiderable, is now greatly 

 leffened, and, confequently the reward for finding them. All thefe mines 

 produce great quantities of gold, which is carried to Cocoy and there pays 



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