THE MILITARY. 



283 



There is a city militia, which is tolerably 

 good ; but that composed of the Indians 

 beggars all description ; one has a hat with 

 a feather in it, another a pair of blue pan- 

 taloons, or an old military coat; the men 

 of all sizes, ages, and colours, and can only 

 be compared to FalstafF's ragged regiment, 

 or the army of Bombastes Furioso. 



The garrisons are strong, but badly de™ 

 fended. Powder-mills are employed near 

 Bogota and Quito, but the produce is tri- 

 fling and inefficient. A supply is therefore 

 procured from England, whose merchan- 

 dize and materials, merchants and soldiers, 

 customs and manners, are most approved in 

 Colombia. The journals of England esta- 

 blish and guide public opinion, and her ves- 

 sels protect and increase the trade, almost 

 exclusively. In fact, to be an Englishman 

 is a passe par tout throughout the republic. 



