wood instead of iron, which the moisture of the air soon corrodes.

Carthagena bay is one of the best, not only on the coast, but in any of the known parts of this country, being two leagues and a half in length, from north to south, with sufficient depth of water, and good anchorage, and so smooth, that ships feel no more motion than on a river ; a careful steerage, however, is necessary, on entering the bay, on account of some shallows, on which the smallest and lightest vessels will sometimes strike.

Philips found the town so far superior in its appearance to Cumana, its streets being straight and broad, and well paved, and the country affording plenty of good living, in flesh, fowl and fruits, that he gladly prolonged his stay there, not only till he had completed his business, but also satisfied his curiosity. Shortly after his arrival, he had an opportunity of observing a disorder which in Ireland is known only by name, but which prevails here to a great degree; there has been an hospital built outside the city for all persons afflicted with leprosy, which is so infectious, that those patients who dont go in voluntarily are compelled to do so by force. Within the last few years, indeed, the hospital could not contain the numbers that were diseas. ed, and they were therefore obliged to build small dwelling houses for them near it; such persons as had the means, built their own, and av the disorder is incurable, they settle them.

selves there for life, so that there is now a complete town established, and a melancholy thing it is, to see such a number of people collected together, all suffering under the same grievous disorder.

The great heat of this country, will not admit the growth of Barley or Wheat, but Maize and rice grow in such abundance, that a bushel of Maize, when sown, usually produces an hun. dred fold at harvest; of this grain, therefore, their bread is principally made, though some wheaten bread is to be met with occasionally, but as the corn from which it is made, is all im ported from Spain, it bears quite too high a price to be of any use to the poor, who use the bread made from the Cassa ya Root. The Sugar Cane, the Cotton Tree, the Cocoa Nut, and the Lime Tree, which bears a very delicious fruit in appearance like a large Lemon, were all growing quite common here, but even in the midst of all those fine fruits, Philips missed many a good thing which he was accustomed to have in plenty at home, and would gladly have given up all the Limes and Cocoa Nuts about him, for a good Irish Loaf, and a draught of sweet milk.

The stratagem by which wild geese are caught in the neighbourhood of Carthagena, surpris. d Philips very much. In the places they frequent, the Indians put Calabashes or Gourds of a large size on the surface of the water, which con. stantly floating, they after a little time cause no

alarm to the fowl. When they are sufficiently accustomed to the sight of them, the Indian gets into the water, at a distance from the flock, with a Gourd over his head: he then advances gently along, and catching hold of them by the feet, draws them one by one under the water by a sudden jerk, until he has procured as many as

he wants.

In Carthagena, as in all other countries situated in the middle parts of the earth, the year is not divided into summer and winter, spring and autumn, but into rainy and dry seasons.— The former lasts from May to November, dur ing which time there is a continued succession of storms, thunder, lightning and rain, which last falls in such torrents, that the streets look like rivers, and greatly surprise those who see them for the first time There is, however, an advantage attending this inclement season, which reconciles the inhabitants to all its severity, and shows that the Almighty can produce good out of that which seems to be evil. From the heat of the climate, there is no good fresh water in the neighbourhood, the cisterns and tubs are therefore filled for the supply of the dry season, which lasts from December to April.

The heat is so intense during the rains, that the people have a livid wan complexion, and appear exhausted on the least exertion. This however, is only in appearance, for they, in general, enjoy good health and live to au

advanced age, when not cut off by the diseases incidental to the climate, some of which generally attack Europeans on their first landing.

Having concluded all his business to his sa tisfaction, Philips now thought he might without any self-reproaches, indulge his fondness for travelling. He gave orders to the vessel to return with the cargo he had purchased, to Ireland, and by letter informed his partners, that instead of returning in her, he intended to make the circuit of South America, so as to be at Trinidad when the vessel should come out with another lading, which he thought would be of great advantage if made up of cotton manufactured goods, boots, shoes, and hats. also added, that if in the course of his journey, he should think it advantageous to make any commercial speculation, he would not neglect the interest of the house to which he was in. debted, both by duty and obligation. "I do ardently long to see more of this continent, but I trust you will believe," he concluded, "I should at once renounce my intention, if it could be gratified only by the neglect of the trust you have reposed in me."

He

Every thing being now arranged, and the vessel having set sail for Europe, Philips took his passage for Portobello in the first vessel bound there, and four days sail westward brought him to the mouth of that harbour. Two strong forts stand one on each side of the entrance, indeed

it would seem, as if nature and art had com, bined to fortify it, for high towering mountains extend round the land side. The town stands at the foot of the bay near the mouth of the river Chagre, and on the north side of that strip of land which joins the two continents to gether, called the Isthmus of Panama, the city of Panama lying due south, and on the other side of the Isthmus exactly sixty miles distant, Being thus screened in by mountains, the heat of the town is beyond description, the climate however, has of late been much improved by & cut made through one of the neighbouring hills, toadmita current of air. Violent thunderstorms are by no means unfrequent. Nothing could exceed Philips' astonishment, the first time he witnessed one; the noise of the thunder-claps, was echoed from rock to rock, and the howl ings and shrieks of the multitudes of monkeys, which abound in the forests of the mountains, could plainly be heard throughout the whole of the storm. As these forests, border on the houses of the town, tigers and other wild beasts come at night down even into the streets carrying off fowls and dogs, or any other animals they happen to meet in their way. Serpents are here very numerous, and their poison parti. cularly deadly; as for Toads, they swarm in the streets and houses of the town, so that we may well conceive, however this country may abound in fine fruits and other good and useful