150 
OUR NEW HABITATION. 
beautiful sky of the tropics, the atmosphere contained less 
azote (azotico) than in Spain ; or whether the rapidity with 
which iron oxydates in those climates, were only the effect of 
greater humidity as indicated by the air hygrometer. The 
name of his native country pronounced on a distant shore 
would not have been more agreeable to the ear of a traveller 
than those words azote, oxide of iron, and hygrometer, were 
to ours. Sehor Emparan was a lover of science, and the 
public marks of consideration which he gave us during a 
long abode in his government, contributed greatly to procure 
us a favourable welcome in every part of South America. 
We hired a spacious house, the situation of which was 
favourable for astronomical observations. We enjoyed an 
agreeable coolness when the breeze arose ; the windows 
were without glass, aud even without those paper panes 
which are often substituted for glass at Cumaua. The 
whole of the passengers of the Pizarro left the vessel, but 
the recovery of those who had been attacked by the fever 
was very slow. We saw some who, a month after, notwith- 
standing the care bestowed on them by their countrymen, 
were still extremely weak and reduced. Hospitality, in the’ 
Spanish colonies, is such, that a European who arrives, with- 
out recommendation or pecuniary means, is almost sure of 
finding assistance, if he land in any port on account of 
sickness. The Catalonians, the Galicians, and the Biscayans, 
have the most frequent intercourse with America. They 
there form as it were three distinct corporations, which 
exercise a remarkable influence over the morals, the indus- 
try, and commerce of the colonies. The poorest inhabitant 
of Siges or Vigo is sure of being received into the house of 
a Catalonian or Galician pulpero* whether he land in Chile 
or the Philippine Islands. 
Among the sick who landed at Cumana was a negro, who 
r f s ^ a f e °*' insanity a few days after our arrival ; he 
died m that deplorable condition, though his master, almost 
seventy years old, who had left Europe to settle at San Bias, 
at the entrance of the guli of California, had attended him 
with the greatest care. I relate this fact as affording evi 
dence that men born under the torrid zone, after having 
dwelt in temperate climates, sometimes feel the pernicious 
* A retail dealer. 
