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ed in the natives of all ages a permanent capacity, and uniform brightnefs of intellects; if they were not of that wretched number who diforder both their minds and bodies by their vices. And indeed, one often fees here perfons of eminent Prudence and extensive talents, both in the fpeculative and practical fciences, and who retain them in all their vigour to a very advanced age.

Charity is a virtue in which all the inhabitants of Carthagena, without exception, may be faid particularly to excel; and did they not liberally exert it towards European ftrangers, who generally come hither, as the phrafe is, to feek their fortune, they would often perifh with fickness and poverty. This appears to me a fubject of fuch importance, though well known to all who have vifited this part of the world, that I fhall add a word or two on it, in order to undeceive those who, not contented with perhaps a competent eftate in their own country, imagine that it is only fetting their foot in the Indies, and their fortune is made.

Those who on board of the gallions are called Pulizones, as being men without employment, stock or recommendation; who leaving their country as fugitives, and, without licence from the officers, come to feek their fortune in a country where they are utterly unknown; and therefore, after traverfing the streets till they have nothing left to procure them lodging or food, are reduced to have recourfe to the last extremity, the Francifcan hofpital, where they receive not in a quantity fufficient to fatisfy hunger, but barely to keep them alive, a kind of pap made of cafava, which, as the natives themselves will not eat it, the talte, to wretched mortals never ufed to fuch food, may be eafily conceived. As this is their food, fo their lodging is the entrance of the fquares and the porticos of churches, till their good fortune throws them in the way of

hiring themselves to fome trader going up the country, and who wants a fervant. For the city merchants, ftanding in no need of them, shew no great countenance to these adventurers, as they may very juftly be cal led. Affected by the difference of the climate, aggravated by bad food, dejected and tortured by the entire dif appointment of their romantic hopes, they fall into a thousand evils, which cannot well be reprefented, and among others, that distemper called at Carthagena, Chapetonada, or the dif temper of the Chapetones, without any other fuccour to fly to than divine providence; for none find admittance into the hofpital of St. Juan de Dios, but those who are able to pay, and, confequently, poverty becomes an abfolute exclufion. Now it is that the charity of these people becomes confpicuous. The Negro and Mulatto free women, moved at their de plorable condition, carry them to their houfes, and nurse them with the greatest care and affection. If any one die, they bury him by the charity they procure, and even caufe maffes to be faid for him. The general iffue of this endearing benevolence is, that the Chapetone, on his recovery, during the fervour of his gratitude, marries either his Negro or his Mulatto benefactress, or one of her daughters; and thus he is fettled, but much more wretchedly than he could have been in his own country, though he had only his own labour to fubfift on.

The difinterestedness of these people is fuch, that their compaffion towards the Chapetones must not be imputed to the hopes of producing a marriage, it being very common for them to refufe their offers either with regard to themselves or their daughters, that their mifery may not be perpetual, but endeavour to find them a mafter whom they may attend up the country, to Santa Fe,

Popayan,

Popayan, Quito and Peru, whither their inclination or the fairelt profpects lead them.

Those who remain in the city, whether bound by one of the above marriages, or, which is but too common, are in another condition very dangerous to their future happinefs, turn Pulperos, Canoeros, or fuch like mean occupations: In all which, they are fo harriffed with labour, and their wages fo fall, that their condition in their own country mutt have been miferable indeed, if they have not reafon to regret their quit ting it. And the height of their enjoyment after toiling all day and part of the night, is to regale themfelves with fome bananas, a cake of maize or cafava, which ferves for bread, and a flice of cafajo, or hung beef; without ever tafting any wheat bread during the whole year.

Others, and not a few, equally unfortunate with the former, retire to fome fmall eftancia, where in a Bujio, or itraw hut, they live little different from beafts, cultivating, in a very fmail fpot, fuch vegetables as are at hand, and fubfifting on the fale of them.

What has been obferved with regard to the Negro and Mulatto women, and which may alfo be extended to the other cafts, is, as to the charitable part, applicable to all the women and whites; who, in every tribe, are of a very mild and amiable difpofition, and from their natural foftnefs and fympathy, excel the men in the practice of that chriftian virtue. Among the reigning cuitoms here, fome are very different from thofe of Spain, or the most known parts of Europe. The principal of thefe are the use of brandy, cacao, honey, fweetmeats, and Imoaking tobacco, which fhall be taken notice of in their proper places.

The use of brandy is so common, that the most regular and fober perfons never omit drinking a glafs of it every morning about eleven o'clock; alledging, that this fpirit ftrengthens the ftomach, weakened by copious and conftant perspiration, and tharpens the appetite. Hacer las once, to do the eleven, that is, to drink a glafs of brandy, is the common invitation. This cuftom, not efteemed pernicious by thefe people when used with moderation, has degenerated into vice; many being fo fond of it, that during the whole day they do nothing but hacer las once. Perfons of diftinétion ufe Spanish brandy, but the lower clafs and negroes very contentedly take up with that of the country, extracted from the juice of the fugar-cane, and thence called cane-brandy, of which fort the confumption is much the greateft.

Chocolate, here known only by the name of cacao, is fo common, that there is not a Negro flave but conftantly allows himself a regale of it after breakfast; and the Negro women fell it ready made about the ftreets, at the rate of a quarter of a real (about five farthings fterling) for a difh. This is however fo far from being all cacao, that the principal ingredient is maize; but that used by the better fort is neat, and worked as in Spain. This they conftantly repeat an hour after dinner, but never ufe it fafting, or without eating fomething with it.

They alfo make great ufe of fweetmeats and honey; never fo much as drinking a glass of water without previoully eating fome fweetmeats. Honey is often preferred as the fweeter, to conferves or other fweetmeats either wet or dry. Their fweetmeats are eaten with wheat bread, which they ufe only with thefe and chocolate; the honey they fpread on cafa

va cakes.

The

*Pulperos are men who work in a kind of tent, called in Spanish Pulperios, and the Canteros are watermen who carry goods in pirogues or cances,

The paflion for fmoaking is no lefs univerfal, prevailing among perfons of all ranks in both fexes. The ladies and other white women fmoak in their houses, a decency not obferved either by the women of the other cafts, nor by the men in general, who regard neither time nor place. The manner of ufing it is by flender rolis compofed of the leaves of that plant; and the women have a particular manner of inhaling the fmoak. They put the lighted part of the roll into their mouths, and there continue it a long time without its being quenched, or the fire incommoding them. A compliment paid to thofe for whom they profefs an intimacy and efteem, is to light their tobacco for them, and to hand them around to those who vifit them. To refuse the offer would be a mark of rudeness not eafily digefted, and accordingly they are very cautious of paying this compliment to any but thofe whom they previously know to be used to tobacco. This cuftom the ladies learn in their childhood, and doubtless from their nurfes, who are Negro flaves; it is fo common among perfons of rank, that thofe who come from Europe cafily. join in it, especially if they intend to make any confiderable ftay in the country.

One of the most favourite amufements of the natives here, is a ball, or fandango, after the manner of the country. And these are the diftinguifhed rejoicings on feftivals and remarkable days. But while the gallions, garda-coftas, or other Spanish fhips are here, they are molt common, and at the fame time conduct ed with the leaft order; the crews of the fhips forcing themselves into their ball-rooms. Thefe diverfions in houses of diftinction, are conducted in a very regular manner; they open with Spanish dances, and are fucceeded by thofe of the country, which are not without fpirit and

gracefulness. These are accompanied with finging, and the parties rarely break up before day light.

The fandangos, or balls of the populace, confi principally in drinking brandy and wine, intermixed with indecent and fcandalous motions and geftures; and thefe continual rounds of drinking foon give rife to quarrels, which often bring on misfortunes. When any ftrangers of rank vifit the city, they are generally at the expence of thefe balls; and as the entrance is free to all, and no want of liquor, they need give themselves no concern about the want of company.

Their burials and mournings are alfo fomething fingular; as in this particular they endeavour to difplay their grandeur and dignity, too often at the expence of their tranquillity. If the deceafed be a perfon of condi tion, his body is placed on a pompous Catafalco, erected in the principal apartment of the house, amidst a blaze of tapers. In this manner the corpfe lies twenty-four hours or longer, for the acquaintance of the family to vifit it at all hours; and likewife the lower clafs of women, among whom it is a custom to come and lament the deceased.

Thefe women, who are generally, drefled in black, come in the evening or during the night into the apartment where the corpfe lies, and hav ing approached it, they throw themfelves on their knees, and then raise and extend their arms as to embrace it; after which they begin their lamentations, in a doleful tone, mixed with horrid cries, which always conclude with the name of the deceased; afterwards they begin, in the fame difagreeable vociferations, his hiftory, rehearsing all his good and bad qualities, not even omitting his amours of any kind, and in fo circumftantial a narrative, that a general confeffion can hardly be more particular; till

at

at length, quite spent, they withdraw to a corner of the apartment ftored with brandy and wine, on which they never fail plentifully to regale themfelves. No fooner are thefe departed from the body than others fucceed, till all the women have taken their turn. The fame afterwards is repeated by the fervants, flaves, and acquaintance of the family, which continues without intermiffion during the remainder of the night; whence may eafily be imagined the confufion and noile occafioned by this doleful vociferous ceremony.

The funeral alfo is accompanied with the like noify lamentations, and

even after the corpfe is depofited in the grave, the mourning is continued in the houfe for nine days, during which time the pacientes are mourners, whether men or women, never ftir from the apartment, where they receive the pefanes, or compliments of condolance. During nine nights from fun fet to fun rifing, they are attended by their relations and intimate acquaintances; and it may be truly faid of them that they are all fincerely forrowful; the mourners for the lofs of the deceased, and the vifitors from the uneafinefs and fatigue of fo uncomfortable an attend

ance.

DESCRIPTION of the COUNTRY, and of the TREES and VEGETABLES in the Neighbourhood of CARTHAGENA.-From the fame.

TH

HE country about Carthagena is fo luxuriant, that it is impoffible to view, without admiration, the rich and perpetual verdure of the woods, and plants it naturally produces. But thefe are advantages of which the natives make little ufe, their innate floth and indolence, not allowing them to cultivate the gifts of nature, which here feem to have been dealt out with a lavish hand. The interwoven branches of the trees form a fhelter impenetrable both to heat and light.

If the trees here are large and lofty, their variety is alfo admirable, and entirely different from thofe of Europe. The principal of thefe for dimenfions are the caobo, or acajou, the cedar, the maria, and the balfam tree. Of the first are made the canoes and champanes ufed for fishing, and the coast and river trade,within the jurifdiction of this government. Thefe trees produce no eatable fruit; but their wood is compact, fragrant, and beautiful. The cedar is of two kinds, white and reddish; but the last most efteemed. The maria and the balfam trees, befides the usefulness of their

timber, diftil thofe admirable balfams called maria oil, and balfam of tolu, fo called from a village in the neighbourhood of which it is found in the greateft quantity, and of a peculiar excellency.

Befides thefe trees, here are alfo the tamarind, the medlar, the fapote, the papayo, the guayabo, the cannafiftolo, or caffia, the palm, the manzanillo, and feveral others, most of them producing a whole fome and palatable fruit, with a durable and variegated wood. The manzanillo is particularly remarkable; its name is derived from the Spanish word manzana, an apple, which the fruit of this tree exactly refembles in fhape, colour and flavour; but contains, under this beautiful appearance, fuch a fubtil poifon, that its effects are perceived before it is tafted. The tree is large, and its branches form near the top a kind of crown; its wood hard, and of a yellowish tinct. On being cut, there oozes out of it a white juice, not unlike that of the fig-tree, except that it is lefs white and of a thinner confiftence, but equally poifonous with the fruit itfelf; for if any hap

pens

pens to drop on any part of the flesh, it immediately caufes an ulcer and inflammation, and unless speedy application be used, foon fpreads thro' all the other parts of the body; fo that it is neceffary after felling it to leave it till thoroughly dried, in order to its being worked without danger, and then appears the beauty of this wood, which is exquifitely variegated and veined like marble on its yellow ground. Upon tafting its fruit, the body immediately fwells, till the violence of the poifon, wanting fufficient room, bursts it; as has been too fully confirmed by feveral melancholy inftances of European failors who have been fent on fhore to cut wood. The fame unhappy confequence alfo attended great numbers of Spaniards at the conqueft of thefe countries, till, according to Herrera, common oil was found to be the pow. erful antidote to this fubtile poifon.

But fuch is the malignity of the manzanillo, that if a perfon happens to fleep under it, he is foon awaked, and finds his body fwelled almoft as much as if he had actually cat the fruit; and continues in great danger and tortures, till relieved by repeated anointings and the ufe of cooling draughts. The very beafts themselves, by their natural instinct, are fo far from eating its fruit, that they never approach the tree.

The palm-trees, rifing with their tufted heads above the branches of the others, form a grand perfpective on the mountains. Thefe, notwithftanding the difference is fearce perceivable, are really of different kinds, as is evident from the diverfity of their fruit. They diftinguifh four principal fpecies; the first produce coco; the fecond dates, of a very pleafant tafte; the third called palma real, whofe fruit, though of the fame figure, but fomething less than the date, is not at all palatable, but has VOL. III. No. 7.

a very difagreeable tafte; and the fourth, which they call corozo, has a fruit larger than dates, of an exquifite tafte, and proper for making cooling and wholefome draughts. The palmitos, or branches of the palma real, are agreeably tafted, and fo large as frequently to weigh from two to three arrobas.* The other fpecies alfo produce them, but neither in fuch plenty, nor fo fucculent. Palm-wine is alfo extracted from all the four; but that from the palma real and corozo is much the beft. The manner of making it is either by cutting down the palm-tree, or boring a hole in the trunk, in which is placed a tap, with a veflel under it for receiving the liquor, which ufually ferments five or fix days, more or lefs, and then is drank. The colour of it is whitish; the tafte racy: it bears e greater head than beer, and is of a very inebriating quality. The natives, however, reckon it cooling, and it is the favourite liquor of the Indians and Negroes. The guaiacum and ebony trees are equally common, and their hardness almoft equal to that of iron. Thefe fpecies of woods are fometimes carried into Spain, where they are greatly efteemed, but here they are difregarded from their great plenty.

Among the variety of vegetables. which grow under the fhade of the trees, and along the funny borders of the woods, the most common is the fenfitive; which alone, were other proofs wanting, fufficiently demonftrates the fenfibility of plants; for on touching one of its leaves, all thofe on the fame branch immediately clofe against each other, fo fuddenly, as if all the fprings had waited that inftant, in order to act at the fame time. After a fhort interval they begin gradually to open and separate from each other, till they are entirely expanded. The fenfitive is a fmall

F

* The arreba is 25 pounds.

plant,

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