CARTHAGENA, the capital of the province just now described, is situated in a large and convenient bay of the same name. It stands upon a sandy peninsula, and communicates with the continent by narrow necks of land and wooden bridges. The city and the suburbs are well laid out. The streets run in straight lines ; arc wide, uniform, and tolerably- well paved. The houses, which are mostly built of stone, have only one story above the ground floor: their apartments are well con trived, and their balconies and lattices are of wood, which, from the nature of the climate, are there preferable to iron for such purposes. The outside of the buildings, on account of the smoky colour of the walls, has a ditty and disagreeable aspect. The fortifications are con structed after the modern manlier, lined with freestone, and of considerable strength. Besides a precinct and bastions, there is a half moon, which defends the entrance, or gate ; and several castles situated on small eminences, and on the side of the bay. In this place there is a great number of religious communities, who have churches and convents for their accommodation. These are characterised by poverty in their ornaments, though their architecture is appropriate, and their capa city sufficient. The cathedral church is magnificent. There is a college of Jesuits. A tribunal of the Inquisi tion is also established here, in which respect Carthagena is on a footing with the metropolitan cities of Lima and Mexico. The power of this tribunal reaches to Isla Espanolo, where it was first settled, Terra Firma, and Santa re. Carthagena is the head of a bishopric erected in 1534 by Pope Clement VII. The jurisdiction of the bishop extends as far as that of the civil and military government. The government of the city is managed by a person who resides in it, with the title of governor, having under him a requisite number of civil and mili tary officers. In civil matters, an appeal lies to the audience of Santa Fe, and in military affairs to the viceroy of New Grenada. The police of the city is con ducted by a secular magistracy, consisting of regidores, from whom are annually chosen two alcaldes. There is also a revenue office, where all taxes are received, and the necessary payments issued. Processes are deter mined by a man of the law, with the title of auditor de la gente de guera.—Carthagena, on account of its advan tageous situation, and the excellence and safety of its harbour, very soon became the most important settle ment and emporium of the Spaniards in South America. So early as the year 1544, it was a town of some com mercial celebrity. Being selected as the port in which the galleons should first trade on their arrival from Europe, and to which they were ordered to repair pre vious to their voyage homeward, the resort to it was so great, and the means of prosperity so copious, that in a short time it rose to be one of the most populous and most opulent cities in America. And though, from the
arrangements which have since taken place respecting the galleons, and the general circumstances of the com mercial world, it has declined very much, it still carries on a considerable inland and foreign trade, and preserves no small portion of its comparative importance. It is reckoned by Humboldt to stand before all the other ports, with the exception of Vera Cruz, the Havannah, and Lima. Including the small adjoining ports of Rio Hacha, Santa I1laria, and Portobello, with which it is connected by the most intimate commercial relations, it exports annually of the produce of native agriculture to the value of 252,0001. sterling. The quantities of that pro duce are as follows : of 'cotton 3,307,5001b. sugar, 220,500 ditto—of indigo, 22,050 ditto—of Brazil wood, 882,000 ditto—of quinquina of New Grenada, 220,509 ditto—of balsam of Tolu, 2205 ditto—and of ipecacuana, 13,230 ditto. Besides these articles, there is a considerable exportation of the precious metals, which arc carried to Old Spain. The value of the impor tation amounts to 840,000/. sterling annually. The arti cles imported arc brandy, wine, oil, almonds, raisins, tobacco, confectionaries, iS,ce.—The bay of Carthagena, on which depends so much of its commercial con sequence, extends two leagues and a half from north to south. It has a sufficient depth of water, and good anchorage ; and is so well sheltered, that the ships are no more agitated than if they were in a river. There are so many shallows, however, at the entrance, and on ionic of these there is so very little water, that a skilful pilot is always requisite to steer the vessels into it with safety. The difficulty of navigating vessels in it is also increased, by the irregularity of the tides, which increase the danger of striking, and by the slimy and tenacious consistence of the bottom, which, when a vessel does run aground, renders it often necessary to lighten her, before she can be got off. ln this hay there is great plenty and variety of fish, both wholesome and agreeable to the taste. The turtles are large, and of excellent flavour. Sharks arc here very common, large, vora cions and destructive. There are vast multitudes of craw fish, from which the country on this coast got from the Indians the name of Calamari, signifying the land of craw-fish. All along the coast, salt is produced in great abundance.