82 A VOYAGE TO Book I, 



thefe would be fufficient to anfwer the demand. Be- 

 fides, the inland merchants ran the hazard of not meet- 

 ing at Carthagena with goods fufficient, in quality 

 and quantity, to anfwer their charges ; and were fome- 

 times adtually obliged to return with the money, and 

 the vexation of a fruitlefs, though expenfive, journey. 

 Thefe inconveniences produced a repeal of the pro- 

 hibition, and commerce was placed .on the prefent 

 ■'- equitable footing. 



This little fair at Carthagena, for fo it may be 

 called, occafipns a great quantity of (hops to be open- 

 ed, and filled with all kinds of merchandize ; the pro- 

 fit partly refulting to Spaniards who come in the gal- 

 leons, and are either recommended to, or are in partr 

 nerfhip with, the Cargadores ; and partly to thofe al- 

 ready fettled in that city. The Cargadores furnifli the 

 former with goods, though to no great value, in or- 

 der to gain their cuftom and the latter, as perfons 

 whom they haye already experienced to be good men ; 

 and both in proportion to the quicknefs of their fale. 

 This is a time of univerfal profit ^ to fome by letting 

 lodgings and Ihops, to fome by the increafe of their 

 refpedtive trades, and to others by the labour of their 

 negro flaves, whofe pay alfo is proportionally increafed, 

 as they do more work in this bufy time. By this brifk 

 circulation through all the feveral ranks, they fre- 

 quently get a furplus of money beyond what is fuf- 

 ficien.t for providing themfeives with neceffaries. And 

 it is not uncommon for Haves, out of their favings, 

 and after paying their maflers the daily tribute, tq 

 purchafe their freedoms. 



This affluence extends to the neighbouring villages, 

 eftancias, and the moil yx^retched chacaras, of this ju- 

 rifdidlion ; for, by the increafe of ftrangers to a fourth, 

 third, and fometimes one half, of the ufual number of 

 people, the confumption, and confequently the price 

 of provifions, advances, which is, of courfe, no fmall 

 advantage to thofe who bring them to market. 



This 



