1305. ] 
For the Monthly, Magazine. 
DESCRIPTION of the COUNTRY on the 
COAST of SOUTH-AMERICA, from 
PORTO-BELLO 0 CARRACCAS on the 
EAST, and from PANAMA to GUAYa- 
/QUIL and LIMA 07% the west. By a 
‘GENTLEMAN who bas wifited it. 
ORTO-BELLO has an excellent 
harbour, is fituated at a narrow part 
of the ifthmus of Darien, is eighty miles 
by land from Panama (on the oppofite 
fide of the ifthmus), and one hundred and 
eighty weft-fouth-welt fronr Carthagena. 
There fs no communication from thence 
by land to Carthagena, as the whole 
weftern and fouthern parts of Darien 
(within the gulph) are in poffeflion of the 
Indians, who bear a mortal hatred to the 
Spanifh name, arid the Spaniards a great 
fear of them. Ten leagues wettward of 
Porto-Bello is.a {mall town. called Cha- 
gres, fituated at the mouth of-a river of 
the fame name, which is navigable for 
large canoes forty-five miles up, to a place 
called Cruz, from whence the diftance to 
Panama is but feven leagues. The ufual 
communication from Porto-Bello to Pana- 
ma is by this river. Weftward of Cha- 
gres one hundred and fifty miles, empties 
the river St. Juan de Nicaragua, which rifes 
and takes its name from aJarege lake in 
the province of Leon. The lake of Ni- 
caragua extends within a few miles of the 
Pacific Ocean. 
From about the time of the autumnal 
equinox, till Februsry or March, the 
whole country in the vicinity of the ifth- 
mus of Panama is deluged by almoit in- 
ceffant rain ; during which time the winds 
are very variable on the Atlantic fide, but 
moftly prevail irom the weltward. The 
remaining part of the year the winds are 
more regular, and prevail from the eaft- 
ward ; the atmofphere is then drier, and 
the inhabitants more healthy. Itis very 
feldom, however, even in the drieft fea- 
fons, they are more than a day or two 
without exceffive rains ; fo that the mile- 
rable inhabitants feidom fcel the regene- 
rating influence of the fun, his piercing 
yays being incapable of penetrating 
threugh the thick vapours which obfcure: _ 
him from their fight. The country is 
mountainous, and covered with a thick 
impenetrable wood. ‘This narrow {trip of 
land, which binds together North and 
South America, being fituated between 
two immenfe oceans, is deftined to be per- 
petually covered with thick vapours, 
Faifed by the intenfe heat of the fun from 
the two oceans, which being naturally 
precipitated by the winds to the fame 
‘ 
Defeription of the Coaft of South America, 297 
point, and impeded in their progrefs by 
the mountains and contrary current of 
air, here concentrate, are condenled, and 
fall in torrents of rain, like the waters of 
an immenfe river down a precipice. 
The vat quantity of ttagnant water 
with which the earth is perpetually co- 
vered, emitting inceffant vapours, whict 
impregnate the air with their noxious qua- 
liiies, may be the principal caufe why it 
is extremely unbealthy. 
The inhabitants of this country are 
moftly natives, the climate being {fo ini- 
mical to European conttitutions, that few 
of the Jatter venture a long refidence.— 
They are a diminutive, emaciated fet of 
wretches, and have more the appearance 
of walking phantoms than of human ani+ 
mated beings. 
The prevailing difeafes in this country 
are: Firft, the leprofy, which all the in- 
habitants are more or les afflicted with, 
and ftrangers, foon after their arrival, are 
attacked by it, particularly at Porto-Bel- 
lo, I imputed the caufe of this loathfome 
difeafe rothe water, which defcends frewa 
the mountains by a natural aqueduct inte 
the town, and from thence to the fea, and 
of which the inhabitants drink freely, fel- 
dom mixing with it any kind of {pirits.— 
Ic is extremely cool and pleafant, and of 
a clear bluith catt, 
Secondly. A diforder, called by the 
Spaniards dolor- acofiado, or pain in the 
fide, which, when fetiling on the right 
fide, affects the liver, and Shea diilire left, 
forms a hard lump, which attaches itfelt 
to the fide, and pone, terminates in 
death. This is cccafioned (fay the Spa- 
nifh phyficians) by a concentration and | 
ffagnation of the blood in the part affected. 
The extreme pain it gives the pacent as 
the dilorder increafes, occafions a violent. 
fever. For this complaint they give 
rong purgatives, bleed profulely, and 
rub the part affected with warm tallow, 
as likewile the extremities of the body, 
which produces violent perfpiration. They 
fometimes make an incifion in the fide for 
the matter collected to difcharge itfelf. 
Thirdly, Pulmonary complaints are 
frequent. 
Fourthly. Bilions nes. which are 
the prevailing difeale in that country, and 
generally come to a crifis the feventh or 
ninth day. If they do not terminate in 
death, the patient is left extremely weak 
and debilitated, and remains a long time 
ina convalelcent tare; indeed, feldom 
recovers perfect health without change of 
climate. The remedies prefcribed for 
this diforcer are ftrong purgatives, pro- 
fufe 
