Guatimala. MEXICO, OR NEW SPAIN. 41 



the country being mountainous, and overgrown with woods, affording very 

 little either of arable or pafture-lands j but then it abounds in what the 

 Spaniards elleem much more than even the neceflaries of life ; that is gold, 

 of which there is more in this little province than in all N.ew Spain befides, 

 chieliv got out of the rivers, after rains or florms. 



This province was fettled as a reward of the extraordinary merits of the 

 great admiral Chrijlopher Columbus, the difcoverer of this part of the world, 

 and was granted not only to him, but to his poflerity, in propriety with the 

 title of dukes,, which they hold to this day, and are of the'richefl families 

 of Spain, 



Trinidad, by f me miftakenly called Veragua, is only an ifland : 

 the trade of this place proceeds from the working of the neighbouring mines, 

 where the flaves are compelled to dig and wafh the earth in the adjacent 

 rivers, in which bits of gold are often found, as big as peas. 



Conception, is both a rich and large city, ftanding not far from the coaft 

 of the North Sea. Here refide the governor and others of the king's officers.- 



Santa Fe, is near the centre of this province : here the king of Spai>? 

 keeps officers for calling and refining^the gold which is produced in the 

 mines near this town. 



It has been thought very pradlicable to make a defcent on this coafl, 

 even to take the city of Cotiception, during a war with Spain, 



A 



COSTA RICA, OR THE RICH COAST. 



THE climate of this province is far from being good, and its foil is worfe, 

 being mountainous, barren, and woody which defcription ill fuits 

 with its name j but thefe places received their appellations when they were 



G ' firfl 



