town of North America, situated in N. Lat. 9° 3'. W. Long. 79° 45' close to the sea, on the declivity of a mountain, which surrounds the whole harbour. This harbour is so large, deep, and safe, that Columbus, who first discovered it, gave it the name of Porto-Bello, or the "Fine Harbour," which is now commonly used to denote the town. The number of the houses is about 132; most of them of wood, large and spacious, forming one long street along the strand, with other smaller ones crossing it. The governor of the town is always a gentleman of the army, subordinate to the president of Panama; but having under him the commandants of the forts that defend the harbour. At the east end of the town, on the road to Panama, is a place called Guinea, where all the negroes of both sexes, whether slaves or free, have their habitations. This place is very much crowded when the galleons are here, most of the inhabitants of the town quitting their houses entirely for the sake of letting them; while others content themselves with a small part, in order to make money of the rest. The Mulattoes and other poor families also remove either to Guinea, or to cottages already erected near it, or built on the occasion. Great numbers of artificers likewise who flock to Porto-Bello from Panama to work at their respective callings during the fair, lodge in Guinea for cheapness. Towards the sea, in a large tract between the town and Gloria castle, barracks are erected, in most of which the ships crews keep stalls of sweetmeats, and other kinds of eatables, brought from Spain; but at the conclusion of the fair, when the ships put to sea, all these buildings are taken down, and the town returns to its former tranquillity and emptiness. In 1739, the harbour was defended by a castle and two forts; which were all demolished by admiral Vernon, who, with six ships only, made himself master of this port. The country about Porto-Bello is over-run with mountains and impenetrable forests, except a few valleys, in which are some scattered farms. Among the mountains that surround the harbour is one distinguished by the name of Capivo, and by its superior loftiness is a fort of barometer to the country, by foretelling every change of weather. Its top is always covered with clouds, of a density and darkness seldom seen in those of the atmosphere. When these clouds thicken, increase their blackness, and sink below their usual station, it is a sure sign of a tempest; while, on the other hand, their clearness and ascent as certainly indicate the approach of fair weather. These changes are very sudden and frequent here. The summit of the mountain is scarce ever clear from clouds; and when it happens, it is only, as it were, for an instant. Except in the time of the fair, all the inhabitants of Porto-Bello do not amount to 3000; half of whom are Indians, Mulattoes, or Negroes; the Spaniards of any substance not choosing to reside in a place so extremely unhealthy, and fatal even to the lives of the natives. Ulloa tells us, that the cattle brought hither from Panama or Carthagena, lose their flesh so fast in the hot pastures, as to become scarce eatable; he affirms us also, that neither horses nor asses are bred here. The heat, indeed, is excessive; and the torrents of rain are so dreadful, sudden, and impetuous, that one not accustomed to them would imagine a second deluge was coming. These torrents are also accompanied with frightful tempests of thunder and lightning, the awfulness of the scene being heightened by the reverberations from the mountains, and the shrieks and howlings of multitudes of monkeys of all kinds which inhabit the surrounding woods.

Fresh water pours down in streams from the mountains, some running without the town, and others crossing it. These waters are very light and digestive; qualities which in other countries would be very valuable, but are here pernicious, producing dysenteries, which the patient seldom survives. However, these rivulets, formed into reservoirs, serve the purposes of bathing, which is here found to be very conducive to health.

As the forests almost border on the houses of the streets, tygers often make incursions into the streets during the night, carrying off fowls, dogs, and other domestic animals, and sometimes even children have fallen a prey to them. Besides the snares usually laid for them, the Negroes and Mulattoes, who fell wood in the forests of the mountains, are very dexterous in encountering them; and some, for a slender reward, even seek them in their retreats.

The town of Porto-Bello, which is thinly inhabited by reason of its noxious air, the scarcity of provisions, and the barrenness of the soil, becomes, after the arrival of the galleons, one of the most populous towns in the world. He who had seen it quite empty, and every place wearing a melancholy aspect, would be filled with astonishment to see the bustling multitudes in the time of the fair, when every house is crowded, the squares and streets encumbered with bales of merchandise and chests of gold and silver, the harbour full of ships and vessels, some loaded with provisions from Carthagena, and others with the goods of Peru, as cocoa, Jesuit's bark, Vieuna wool, and bezoar stones; and this town, at all other times detested for its deleterious qualities, becomes the staple of the riches of the Old and New World, and the scene of one of the most considerable branches of trade in the universe. Formerly the fair was limited to no particular time; but as a long stay in such a fickle place extremely affected the health of the traders, his Catholic majesty transmitted an order that the fair should not last above 40 days; and that, if in that time the merchants could not agree on their rates, those of Spain should be allowed to carry their goods up the country to Peru; and accordingly, the commodore of the galleons has orders to re-embark them, and return to Carthagena; but otherwise, by virtue of a compact between the merchants of both kingdoms, and ratified by the king, no Spanish trader is to send his goods, on his own account, beyond Porto-Bello. The English were formerly allowed to send a ship annually to this fair, which turn- Porto-Farina, a port about 12 miles from Cape Carthage, in the bay of Tunis, where formerly the large vessels belonging to the bey were fitted out, and laid up on their return from a cruise. This harbour is safe from the weather, and opens into a large lake, formed by the Mejerdah, which runs through into the sea.—The north-west wind, which blows right upon the shore, together with the soil brought down by the river, which has the same quality as the Nile of overflowing its banks, has formed a bar, so that only small vessels can now enter. It is still the arsenal where the naval stores are kept. E. Long. 16° 16' N. Lat. 37° 12'.

Porto-Ferraria, a handsome town of Italy, in the isle of Elba, with a good citadel. It is very strong, and seated on a long, high, steep point of land, to the west of the bay of the same name, which has two forts. It belongs to the great duke of Tuscany, who always keeps a good garrison there. E. Long. 10° 37' N. Lat. 48° 55'.

Porto-Longone, a small but very strong town of Italy, and in the isle of Elba, with a good harbour, and a fortress upon a rock almost inaccessible. The king of Naples has a right to put a garrison therein, though the place belongs to the prince of Piombino. It is seated on the east end of the island, eight miles south-west of Piombino. E. Long. 10° 10' N. Lat. 42° 52'.

Porto-Santo, an island of the Atlantic Ocean, on the coast of Africa, and the least of those called the Madeiras. It is about 15 miles in circumference, and produces but little corn; however, there are oxen and wild hogs, and a vast number of rabbits. There are trees which produce the gum or resin called dragon's blood; and there is likewise a little honey and wax, which are extremely good. It has no harbour, but good mooring in the road. It belongs to the Portuguese, and is 300 miles west of the coast of Africa. W. Long. 16° 20' N. Lat. 32° 58'.

Porto-Seguro, a government of South America, on the eastern coast of Brazil; bounded on the north by the government of Rio-dos-Hilos, on the east by the North Sea, on the south by the government of Spiritu-Santo, and on the west by the Tupics. It is a very fertile country, and the capital town is of the same name. It is built on the top of a rock, at the mouth of a river, on the coast of the North Sea, and is inhabited by Portuguese. W. Long. 38° 50' S. Lat. 17° 0'.

Porto-Vecchio, is a sea-port town of Corsica, in the Mediterranean Sea, seated on a bay on the eastern coast of the island. It is 12 miles from Bonifacio, and 40 north of Sardinia. E. Long. 9° 20' N. Lat. 41° 42'.

Porto-Venero, is a town of Italy, on the coast of Genoa, at the entrance of the gulf of Spezia. It is seated on the side of a hill, at the top of which there is a fort. It has a very good harbour, and is 45 miles south-east of Genoa. E. Long. 9° 38' N. Lat. 44° 5'.