WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 351 



Ursua, and was being governed by a valiant gentleman named Ortun 

 Velasco. Here for this crime and many others he had committed, 

 they hanged him and he was drawn and quartered ; such was the 

 end of those who had followed so evil a path. Herewith I conclude 

 this chapter, to discuss Popayan in the following one. 



Chapter XXIX 



Of the City of Timana and Its District. 



1062. The city of Timana lies 60 leagues S. of Bogota on the 

 King's Highway to Quito and the Kingdoms of Peru ; it is 40 leagues 

 this side of Popayan. Within the territory of this city, the districts 

 of the Circuit Courts of Bogota and Quito meet ; Timana comes 

 under the jurisdiction of that of Bogota, and of the State and Dio- 

 cese of Popayan, although most of that State comes within the district 

 of the Circuit Court of Quito ; at the death of the Governor, his 

 successor ad interim is appointed by the President of the Circuit 

 Court of Bogota in the New Kingdom of Granada. 



1063. The city has a hot climate and is very pleasant, but there 

 are only a few Spanish residents. It has within its jurisdiction rich 

 beds and veins of gold ore, and there are large gold-washing outfits 

 on all the rivers. In this city they make up quantities of very fine 

 twist henequen fiber, and some cotton cloth. On the E. they have 

 wide rich provinces of heathen to be converted to the Faith, and in 

 that direction they are very close to those of Eldorado, which have 

 been so sought after and not found by the many who have set out 

 for them, the great impediment being the roughness of the mountains 

 and the wide extent of the country. 



1064. From this city of Timana the King's Highway runs to Quito 

 and all the Kingdom of Peru, along the Neiva Valley, which is level 

 and attractive country, with excellent side valleys and a good climate ; 

 their slopes and waters run into the Rio Grande de La Magdalena. 

 In this Neiva Valley there are countless stray and wild cattle without 

 owners, descended from those brought in by the Spaniards when 

 they founded the city of Simancas ; this was settled by Gov. Don 

 Bernardo de Vargas Machuca ; nearby was established the town of 

 Neiva ; but they were abandoned after several years because of bad 

 administration and of the fatal proximity of the Pijaos Indians, whose 

 raids caused much damage. These are strong and sturdy ; their 

 weapons are very strong lances 25 palms long, with an iron point 

 at each end, and also throwing darts ; in former days they used to 

 use war clubs made of a very tough, hard palm, as heavy as iron ; 



