Ch. V. SOUTH AMERICAo 99 



In manners and cuftoms, the inhabitants of Porto 

 Bello refemble thofe of Carthagena, except that the 

 latter are more free and generous, thofe in the parts 

 round Porto Bello being accufed of avarice ; a vice 

 indeed natural to all the inhabitants of thefe countries* 



Provisions are fcarce at Porto Bello, and confe- 

 quently dear, particularly during the time of the gal- 

 leons and the fair ; when there is a neceffity for a fup~ 

 ply from Carthagena and Panama. From the former 

 are brought maize, rice, cafava, hogs, poultry, and 

 roots ; and from the latter, cattle. The only thing 

 in plenty here is fifh, of which there is a great va- 

 riety and very good. It alfo abounds in fugar canes, 

 fo that the chacaras, or farm houfes, if they may be 

 fo called, are built 'of them. They have alfo in- 

 genious * for making fugar and molafTes, and, from 

 the latter, brandy. 



Fresh watet pours down in ftreams from the moun-* 

 tains, fome running without the town, and others crof- 

 fing it. Thefe waters are very light and digeftive, 

 and, in thofe who are ufed to them, good to create 

 an appetite-, qualities, which in other countries would 

 be very valuable, are here pernicious. This country 

 feems fo curfed by nature, that what is in itfelf good, 

 becomes here deftrudive. For, doubtlefs, this water 

 is too fine and adlive for the ftomachs of the in- 

 habitants ; and thus produces dylenteries, the laft 

 ftage of all other diftempers, and which the patient 

 very feldom furvives. Thefe rivulets, in their de- 

 fcent from the mountains, form little refervoirs, or 

 ponds, whofe coolnefs is increaled by the Onade of 

 the trees, and in thefe all the inhabitants of the tovv^ri 

 bathe themfelves conftantly every day at eleven in the 

 morning; and the Europeans fail not to follow an 

 example fo pleafant and conducive to health. 



* ingenio figniHes the mill, ftill, and apparatus, for making 

 fugar, rum, &c. A« * 



H 2 As 



