22 



THE COAST OF 



the troops were accordingly taken off the fhore, the fortifications already 

 taken were blown up, and by the 12th of May, the whole fleet and tranf- 

 ports left Carthagena. 



It was reported in the beginning of the prefent year, that great part of 

 Carthagena was deftroyed by an earthquake in 1761, but as the particulars 

 of that dreadful account are not yet come to hand, we fhall decline faying 

 any more about it, only that we hope it is not true. 



" " ■ ' ' ■ I - i r 



Z I S A P A T A Bay, 



IS 25 leagues to the fouthward of Carthagena feveral branches of the Hio 

 del Sinu enter this bay, in which a fleet of fhips may ride at anchor in 

 five or fix fathom water, fafe from moft winds. 



The gulf or RIVER of DARIEN, 



IS very large, but the depth at the entrance is not anfwerable to the width 

 of the mouth. About nine leagues to the N. W. from this gulf lies the 

 Golden IJland j and not far diftant the bay of Caledonia, in which is very 

 good anchorage, and great plenty of excellent water. In 1699 feveral 

 natives of Scotland formed a fettlement here, calling it New Caledonia,. 

 and reported that the fertility of the foil, arid plealantnefs of the place 

 is equal to any in America ; that they found a confiderable quantity of gold 

 "in digging the earth, and that many fcore acres of wood-land having been 

 cleared, was, in a few months after, as much over-grown as if no body had 

 been there. This fetdement however was abandoned in the year 1700, 

 through the negledl and mifmanagement of the undertakers, who neither 

 fent out proper perfons, nor fupplied thofe they did fend with provifions. 



SAM- 



