42 



THE COAST OF 



Audience of 



firft difcoverer',, and of courfe acquired fuch denominations as fuired beil with 

 the notions of thofe who Impofeci tbem. The reafon they call thit: Cojia Rica 

 was, becaufe its inhabitants were poffcfled of a great deal of gold, and parted 

 with it freely : whence the Spaniards concluded they procured it without diffi- 

 culty, and that there was abundance of it in this country : however they were 

 in feme meafure deceived ; for as the gold was chiefly taken out of their rivers, 

 fo the quantity decreafed in proportion as the people diminifhed, who were wont 

 to fearch for it a work which none of the Indians are much inclined to now. 

 Mines however there are in this country, both of gold and filver, though not 

 fo rich as formerly. 



The only place of note in this province is the Rio de Sucre, called by the 

 Englijh the Sugar River, fo named from the many fugar works eredled on 

 it : the country through which it runs produces great plenty, which the 

 Spaniards chiefly confume in fweet-meats and preferves. 



Carthage, which is the capital, is feated in the heart of this province, 

 about midway between the North and South-Seas. It is a bifliop's fee, and has 

 a Spanijh governor: the merchants refiding here are efteemed rich, and are faid 

 to carry on their trade by land to Ranamay and by fea to Puerto Veloy Cartha- 

 ge7ia, and the Havana, 



NICARAGUA. 



THIS province extends from the North to the South- Sea. The air 

 is the beft and cleareft in the whole kingdom of Mexico, and the foil 

 moft excellent : it abounds with corn and with fruits, as alfo with very fine 

 timber : wax, cordage, tar, and fugar are the principal commodities it af- 

 fords. One may guefs how pleafant and plentiful a country this is, by its 

 being called the Paradife of Mahomet. What adds much to its beauty is the 

 noble lake of the fame name, which is near 130 leagues in circuit, and ex- 

 tending within 20 miles of the South-Sea. This lake runs into the North- 

 Sea 



