442 C ITER A. 



Fortunately for Choco, the vegetable sub- 

 stance is kept almost perpetually wet, the sun 

 not having sufficient time to absorb the mois- 

 ture caused by one fall of rain, before another 

 takes place. When tv^o or three tolerably dry 

 days happen, the heat becomes very oppres- 

 sive, and every one is attacked with intermit- 

 tent fever. On the return of the rain, however, 

 the air is cleared, and the patients recover. 



The only society they have here is on Sun- 

 day evening, when the whole town (that is, 

 the respectable portion of it,) meet to dance. 

 They have violin, flute, and drum ; and dance 

 Spanish country-dances and waltzes. Both 

 men and women are particularly plaiti, indeed 

 ugly, their countenances bearing strong proofs 

 of the ravages of the climate. They have no 

 education or manners; consequently, it may 

 be imagined how agreeably I was situated, my 

 only comfort being in spending my evenings 

 with Mr. Higson, who is possessed of very 

 general information. 



The state of the mines in this neighbour- 

 hood is nearly the same as at Novita. 



March 6th. About four o'clock in the af- 

 ternoon^ a salute of musquetry announced the 



