Ch. III. SOUTH AMERICA. 123 



price. Here are no pulfe or pot herbs of any kind 5 

 and that this is not owing to the fterility of the earth, 

 we had an evident proof in a fmall garden, belonging 

 to a Galhcian, where all things of this kind were pro- 

 duced in great plenty. By this means Panama is un- 

 der a neceffity of being fnpplied with every thing, 

 either from the coaft of Peru, or places in its own 

 jurifdidion. 



CHAP. IV, 

 Of the ufual Food of the Inhabitants of Panama. 



rn| 1 H E very want of provifions caufes the tables 

 at Panama to be better furnifhed ; and it may 

 be truly faid, that this city fubfifts wholly by commerce, 

 whatever is confumed in it coming from other places. 

 The (hips of Peru are continually employed in ex- 

 porting goods from that country, and the coafting 

 barks in bringing the products of the feveral places 

 in its jurifdidion and that of Varaguas. So that 

 Panama is plentifully furniihed with the bed of wheat, 

 maize, poultry, and cattle. Whether it be owing to 

 the fuperior goodnefs of their food, the temperament 

 of the climate, or to fome other caufe to me unknown, 

 it is certain, that the inhabitants of this city are not fo 

 meagre and pale as thofe who live at Carthagena and 

 Porto Bello, 



Their common food is a creature called guana. It 

 is amphibious, living equally on the land and in the 

 water. It refembles a lizard in fhape, but is fome- 

 thing larger, being generally above a yard in length ; 

 fome are confiderably bigger, and others lefs. It is of 

 a yellowifli-green colour, but of a brighter yellow on 

 the belly than on the back, where the green predo- 

 minates, It has four legs like a hzard but its claws 

 gre mych longer in proportion j th^j are joined by a 



