98 A VOYAGE TO Book II. 



the principal caufe of thefe diftempers flows from the 

 conftitutions of the Europeans not being ufed to it ; 

 and thus they either die, or become habituated to it, 

 like the natives, Creoles, and other inhabitants. 



C H A P. V. 



u4ccount of the Inhabitants and Country about Porto 



Bello. 



IN feveral particulars there is no eflential difference 

 between Carthagena and Porto Bello ; fo that I fhalt 

 only mention thofe peculiar to the latter; and add 

 fome obfervations, tending to convey a more exa6t 

 knowledge of this country. 



The number of the inhabitants of Porto Bello, by 

 reafon of its fmallnefs, and the inclemency of its cli- 

 mate, is very inconfiderable, and the greatefl part of 

 thefe, Negroes and Mulattoes, there being fcarce thirty 

 White families ; thofe, who by commerce or their 

 cftates are in eafy circumftances, removing to Panama. 

 So that thofe only ftay at Porto Bello, whofe employ- 

 ments oblige them to it; as the governor or lieutenant- 

 general, the commanders of the forts, the civil officers 

 of the crown, the officers and foldiers of the gar- 

 rifons, the alcaldes in office and of the hermandad, 

 and the town clerk. During our (lay here, the 

 garrifons of the forts confifted of about 125 men, 

 being detachments from Panama ; and thefe, though 

 coming from a place fo near, are affedled to fuch a 

 degree, that in lefs than a month they are fo at- 

 tenuated, as to be unable to do any duty, till cuftom 

 again reftores them to their ftrength. None of thefe, 

 or of the natives of the country, above the Mulatto 

 clafs, ever fettle here, thinking it a difgrace to live 

 in it : a certain proof of its unhealthinef^, fince thofe 

 to whom it gave birth forfake it. 



