48 A VOYAGE TO Book L 



CHAP. VL 



Defcriptton of the country^ and of the trees and 

 vegetables in the neighbourhood of Carthagena. 



fnfnHE country about Carthagena is lb luxuriant, 

 \ ^ that is is impoffible to view without admira- 

 tion the rich and perpetual verdure of the woods, 

 and plants it naturally produces. But thefe are ad- 

 vantages of which the natives make little ufe their 

 innate (loth and indolence not allowing them to cul- 

 tivate the gifts of nature, which feem to have been 

 dealt out with a laviih hand. The interwoven 

 branches of the trees form a Ihelter impenetrable 

 both to heat and light. 



The trees here are large and lofty, their variety 

 admirable, and entirely different from thofe of Europe. 

 The principal of thefe for dimenfions are, the caobo 

 or acajou, the cedar, the maria, and the balfam tree. 

 Of the firft are made the canoes and champanes ufed 

 for fifhing, and the coaft and river trade, within the 

 jurifdidion of this government. Thefe trees pro- 

 duce no eatable fruit-, but their wood is compad, 

 fragrant, and beautiful. The cedar is of two kinds, 

 white and reddifli-, but the laft moft efteemed. The 

 maria and the balfam trees, befides the ufefulnefs of 

 their timber, diftil thofe admirable balfams called ma- 

 ria oil, and balfam of Tolu, fo called from a village 

 in the neighbourhood, of which it is found in the 

 greateft quantity, and of a peculiar excellency. 



Besides thele trees, here are alfo the tamarind, the 

 medlar, the fapote, the papayo, the guayabo, the 

 cannafiilulo or cafila, the palm, the man^^aniilo, and 

 feveral others, moil of them prodiicing a wholfome 

 and palatable fruit, with a durable and variegated 

 wood. Tlie manganillo is particularly remarkable \ 

 its name is derived from the Spanifh word manfaq, 



an 



