CARTHAGENENA, the capital city of the above province, is situated on a sandy island, on the shore of a large and very commodious bay, more than two leagues in length. It contains a handsome cathedral, besides several churches, convents, and monasteries. The island, which forms a narrow strait on the south-west, opens a communication with that part of the land called Tierra Bomba. To the eastward the city is joined by a wooden bridge to a large suburb called Xeximani, which is connected with the continent by another bridge. The city and suburbs are well laid out, the streets being straight, broad, and uniform. The houses are for the most part built of stone. They consist chiefly of one story above the ground floor. All of them have balconies and lattices of wood, which in this climate is more durable than iron. The climate is excessively hot; and, like the whole province, Carthagenena suffers from periodical rains. In former times this city was the scene of frequent contests, and in the late war of independence it was taken and retaken by both parties. The population amounts to about 20,000, of whom a great many are of Indian descent. Long. 77. 30. W. Lat. 10. 25. N.