370 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 102 



them in the belly, so that it seems impossible for them to move; in 

 fact, many of them die on this road. 



Chapter XI 



Continuing the District of the Diocese of Quito. 

 (Marg. : Note: This chapter should come at the point indicated 

 below.) 



1115. The Indian village of Chimbo has a cool climate and is well 

 settled ; in all the villages of its province [in which] they raise much 

 wheat, corn, and other cereals ; [and] they have large cattle and 

 sheep ranches, and from the wool they manufacture here cloth and 

 grogram ; there are hog ranches also. They raise potatoes also on 

 a large scale ; these are a great recourse and support for both Indians 

 and Spaniards. There is also the quinua, which is a plant like our 

 Spanish goosefoot ; its seeds are tiny, like mustard seed, but white 

 in color. They make excellent stews with it, as well as cakes and 

 cereal dishes which are delicious and sustaining. 



1116. The Indians in this country wear their hair done up in a 

 crown (cerquillo) like the Italians. They [mostly] wear their woolen 

 shirts with [almost as large] an opening at the back and in front 

 [as in the] Turkish style, [but] without sleeves ; they have many 

 sorts of them. As a rule they crouch (en cloquillas), spinning wool 

 with their distaffs, which surprised me considerably when I saw 

 them. This whole province is cold, like that of the Puruaes of 

 Riobamba ; but almost between these two provinces to the S. is the 

 Province of Pallatanga with a hot climate ; they have [very good] 

 sugar plantations there and make excellent preserves. Near Chimbo 

 to the E. is the volcano of Chimborazo, which is always covered 

 with snow. This description must suffice for the Diocese of Quito 

 and its jurisdiction, which is very extensive. 



( Marg. : The chapter whose wrong entry was noted above, should 

 start here.) 



1117. From Chimbo one goes [15 leagues] to the Desembarcadero, 

 [which is 30 leagues from Guayaquil] where there are [several] 

 buildings and storehouses maintained [there] and kept by the residents 

 of Guayaquil for the storage of their wine and other commodities till 

 the mule troops arrive from Chimbo and all over that country, to 

 carry them up to Quito and their other destinations. The region 

 around the Desembarcadero is hot country, thickly wooded and for- 

 ested. It is 15 leagues to Chincho ( ! Chimbo), 2 days' journey in hot 

 country and over an execrable [and] deserted trail ; from Chimbo 



