Ch.il south AMERICA. 23 



themfelves mafters of the forts which defended it, enter- 

 ed the bay with an intent of taking the city ; but they 

 mifcarried in their attempt, and retired with confidera- 

 ble lofs. This event caufed orders to be difpatched for 

 opening the old entrance, by which all fliips now enter 

 the bay. On the north lide the land is fo narrow, that, 

 before the wall was begun, the diftance from fea to fea 

 was only 35 toifes ; but afterwards enlarging, forms an- 

 other ifland on this fide, and the whole city is, except- 

 ing thefe two places which are very narrow, entirely fur- 

 rounded by the fea. Eaftward it communicates, by 

 means of a wooden bridge, with a large fuburb called 

 Xexemani, built on another ifland, which has alfo a 

 communication with the continent by means of another 

 wooden bridge. The fortifications both of the city and 

 fuburb are conftruded in the modern manner, and lined 

 with free-ftone. Thegarrifon in times of peace confifts 

 of ten companies of regulars, each containing, officers 

 included, 77 men ; befides feveral companies of militia. 



In the fide of Xexemani, at a fmall diflance from 

 that fuburb, on a hill, is a fort called St. Lazaro, com- 

 manding both the city and fuburb. The height of the 

 hill is between 20 and 21 toifes, having been geometri- 

 cally meafured. It is joined to feveral higher hills, 

 which run in an eaftern diredlion. Thefe terminate in 

 another hill of confiderable height, being 84 toifes, 

 called Monte de la Popa, and on the top of it is a con- 

 vent of bare-footed Auguftines, called Nueftra Senora 

 de la Popa. Here is an inchanting profpe6l, extend- 

 ing over the country and coaft to an immenfe diftance. 



The city and fuburbs are well laid out, the ftreets 

 being ftrait, broad, uniform, and well paved. The 

 houfes are built of ftone, except a few of brick-, but con- 

 fifl; chiefly of only one ftory above the ground-floor ; 

 the apartments well contrived. All the houfes have 

 balconies and lattices of wood, as more durable in this 

 climate than iron, the latter being foon corroded and 

 deftroyed by the moifl:ure and acrimonious quality of the 



C 4 nitrous 



