a province of South America, and one of the most considerable in New Castile, on account of the great trade carried on by the capital; for the country itself is neither fertile, rich, nor populous. The capital city, called likewise Carthagena, is situated in W. Long. 77. N. Lat. 11, on a sandy island, by most writers called a peninsula; which forming a narrow passage on the south-west, opens a communication with that called Tierra Bomba, as far as Bocca Chica. The little island which now joins them was formerly the entrance of the bay; but it having been filled up by orders of the court, Bocca Chica became the only entrance: this, however, has been filled up since the attempt of Vernon and Wentworth, and the old passage again opened. On the north side the land is so narrow, that before the wall was begun, the distance from sea to sea was only 35 toises; but afterwards enlarging, it forms another island on this side; so that, excepting these two places, the whole city is entirely surrounded by salt water. To the eastward it has a communication, by means of a wooden bridge, with a large suburb called Xemoni, built on another island, which is also joined to the continent by a bridge of the same materials. The fortifications both of the city and suburbs are built after the modern manner, and lined with freestone; and, in time of peace, the garrison consists of ten companies of 77 men each, besides militia. The city and suburbs are well laid out, the streets straight, broad, uniform, and well paved. All the houses are built of stone or brick, only one story high, well contrived, neat, and furnished with balconies and lattices of wood, which is more durable in that climate than iron, the latter being soon corroded by the acrimonious quality of the atmosphere. The climate is exceedingly unhealthy. The Europeans are particularly subject to the terrible disease called the black vomit, which sweeps off multitudes annually on the arrival of the galleons. It seldom continues above three or four days; in which time the patient is either dead or out of danger, and if he recovers, is never subject to a return of the same distemper.

—This disease has hitherto foiled all the art of the Spanish physicians; as has also the leprosy, which is very common here. At Carthagena, likewise, that painful tumour in the legs, occasioned by the entrance of the dracunculus or Guinea-worm, is very common and troublesome. Another disorder peculiar to this country, and to Peru, is occasioned by a little insect called nigua, so extremely minute as scarce to be visible to the naked eye. This insect breeds in the dust, infinuates itself into the soles of the feet and the legs, piercing the skin with such subtlety, that there is no being aware of it, before it has made its way to the flesh. If it is perceived in the beginning, it is extracted with little pain; but having once lodged its head, and pierced the skin, the patient must undergo the pain of an incision, without which a nidus would be formed, and a multitude of insects engendered, which would soon overspread the foot and leg. One species of the nigua is venomous; and when it enters the toe, an inflammatory swelling, greatly resembling a venereal bubo, takes place in the groin.

a sea port town of Spain, in the kingdom