NEW GRENADA. 



451 



province styled the viceroyalty of New Grenada ; its government is republican ; it is divided 

 into 5 departments, which are subdivided into 18 provinces. 



Departments. Capitals. Departments. Capitals. 



The Isthmus, . . Panama. Cundinamarca, . . Bogota. 



Magdalena, . . Carthagena. Cauca, . . . Popayan. 



Boyaca, . . . Tunga. 



2. Towns. Bogota., the capital of the republic, is situated on the table-land of New Gre- 

 nada, and is in general well built. The houses are low, consisting of only one or two stories, 

 on account of the frequency of earthquakes. The principal public buildings are the cathedral, 

 the government palace, which contains the executive offices, the representatives' hall, and the 

 residence of the president, several convents, more remarkable for their size and solidity than 

 for beauty, the mint, &c. The cathedral contains an image of the Virgin, adorned with 1,358 

 diamonds, 1,295 emeralds, and many other precious stones. The other 26 churches are all 

 resplendent with gold and jewels. Here are also a university and several other learned institu- 

 tions. Population, 40,000. The beautiful plain in which the city stands, having an elevation 

 of 8,700 feet, enjoys a mild and healthful climate. 



Carthagena possesses the finest harbor in the country, and has a thriving commerce, with 

 18,000 inhabitants. It is built on a sandy island, which is connected with the continent by 

 bridges, and the narrow, dark, and crooked streets give it a gloomy appearance. Its strong 

 military works, and its vast reservoirs for supplying the inhabitants with water, deserve notice. 

 The marshes in the vicinity render it unhealthy. 



Santa Martha, on the coast to the northeast of Carthagena, has a good harbor, strongly de- 

 fended, an active commerce, and a population of 6,000. Porto Bella, on the Isthmus of Pa- 

 nama, celebrated for the great fair formerly held in it, is now much declined, on account of the 

 insalubrity of its climate. Rio Hacha is a small town, but important for its pearl-fishery and 

 trade. Panama, on the south side of the isthmus, and at the head of the bay of the same name, 

 has a thriving and extensive commerce, with about 10,000 inhabitants. Popayan, with 7,000 

 inhabitants, situated at the foot of the great volcanoes of Purace and Sotara, is a handsome and 

 well built town. Pasto, near the southern frontier, surrounded by volcanic mountains, was 

 completely destroyed by an earthquake, in 1834. Population, 10,000. 



•5. Inhabitants. The population, like that of Mexico, is composed of Creoles, Indians, ne- 

 groes, and the difl^erent mixed races, and bears a general resemblance to that of the Mexican 

 States. The whites are, however, less numerous, and there is a greater proportion of negroes. 

 In dress, the ladies follow the Spanish fashions. The mantilla is general, and at Bogota the 

 females wear a broad beaver hat. The general language is the Spanish. The manner of 

 building is light. In the cities, the houses are generally low, from fear of earthquakes. Ham- 

 mocks are often used for beds, and sometimes suspended from trees. The Grenadians have 

 several light meals in the 24 hours. At 7 in the morning, they have chocolate; at 10, soup, 

 eggs, &c. ; and a dinner at 2. Between that hour and 5, comes the siesta, which is followed 

 by chocolate, and afterwards by a supper. Chocolate is universally used. All provisions are 

 abundant and cheap. In some large towns, where copper coin is unknown, eggs are the small 

 change. If a person buys at a shop something worth less than 5 cts., he receives several eggs 

 with the merchandise. The abuse of intoxicating liquors is less pernicious than in Mexico. 

 All classes, even ladies, smoke tobacco made into small cigars. The most fatal diseases are 

 the pulmonic fevers. The character of the people resembles that of the Mexicans, being of a 

 common origin. The ladies generally, but especially at Bogota, are said to have many attrac- 

 tions. The people are generally indolent and ignorant, but ingenious. They are little ac- 

 quainted even with the history and geography of their own country. They are superstitious 

 and fond of show, but the society is tending to improvement. The most general amusements 

 are dancing, and gaming at billiards, tennis, and cock-fighting. 



The country is very thinly peopled, and there are extensive unoccupied tracts and wilder- 

 nesses. In the mountainous regions, the usual mode of traveling is in chairs tied to the backs of 

 cargueros or porters. The mountains are so difficult to be crossed, that they must either be 

 passed on foot or in this manner. Travelers in traversing the great forest of the Quindiu Moun- 

 tains, which extend for 12 or 15 days' journey, take a month's provision, as the melting of 

 snows, or violent rains, often prevent them from proceeding. The cargueros provide them- 

 selves with the large leaves of a species of banana, and on the spot where they wish to pass the 



