94 A VOYAGE TO BookIL 



deftroys the vigour of nature, and often untimely cuts 

 the thread of Hfe. It is a current opinion, that for- 

 merly, and even not above twenty years fince, partu- 

 rition was here fo dangerous, that it was feldom any 

 women did not die in childbed. As foon therefore as 

 they had advanced three or four months in their preg- 

 nancy, they were fent to Panama, where they continued 

 till the danger of delivery was paft. A few indeed 

 Jiad the firmnefs to wait their deftiny in their own 

 Jioufes but much the greater number thought it more 

 advifeabk to undertake the journey, than to run fo 

 greiit a hazard of their lives. 



I The exceflive love which a lady had for her huf- 

 T)and, blended with a dread that he would forget her 

 during her abfence, his employment not permitting 

 him to accompany her to Panama, determined her to 

 fee the firFc example of a-^ling contrary to this general 

 cuftom.. The reafons for her fe-^r were fufficient to 

 jultify her re-folution to run the rifk of a probable 

 danger, in order to avoid an evil which flie knew to 

 be certain, a^id muft have embittered the whole re- 

 mainder- of her 'life. The event was happy \ fhe was 

 delivered, and recovered her former health and the 

 example of a lady of her rank did not fail of infpir- 

 ing others with the like courage, though i;iot founded 

 on the fame reafons till, by degrees, the dread which 

 former melancholy cafes had imprefied on the mind, 

 and gave occafion to this climate's being confidered 

 as fatal to pregnant women, was intirely difperfed. 



Another opinion equally ftrange is, that the ani- 

 mals from other climates, on their beiug brought to 

 Porto Bello, ceafe to procreate. The inhabitants bring 

 inflances of hens brought from Panama or Cartha- 

 gena, which immediately on their arrival grew bar- 

 ren, and laid no more eggs \ and even at this very 

 time the horned cattle fent from Panama, after they 

 have been here a fmall time, lofe their flefh in fuch a 

 manner as not to be eatable , though they do not 



want 



