WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 3/3 



Belalcazar on the banks of its fine great river, 2° from the Equator 

 and [some] 12 leagues from the sea and the island of Puna, although 

 up to near the city the river looks like a sea, having widened out 

 through its junction with others [like the Daule and Vola]. This 

 settlement was abandoned because of an Indian rebellion in which 

 many Spaniards were massacred ; it was reestablished by Capt. 

 Francisco de Orellana in the year 1537. The city is built at the 

 water's edge on a level piece of land, ascending to a rather high 

 hill ; on top of the hill is the parish church ; the town continues 

 downhill on the slope running approximately E., up to the water's 

 edge on the other side ; the shipyards are over here ; they turn out 

 ships which are among the best in the world, the timber being very 

 good and tough ; [here they build very fine ships, and those of His 

 Majesty's fleet for the protection of that sea and kingdom]. There 

 is a Corregidor in this city, named by the Council, with the title of 

 Militia Captain. This is the chief port of the entire Kingdom of 

 Quito. It has a lively trade, both with the country inland, from which 

 they bring down much flour, ham, cheese, and other commodities, 

 not only for the city but also to ship to Lima and the whole land of 

 Peru, such as cloth, grogram, cordovan leather, etc. They export 

 also from this city much planking and lumber for the buildings of 

 Lima and other localities in the plains of that country, where they 

 have no suitable timber ; they export also much cordage, which is 

 worked up and manufactured in this city and the villages in its 

 jurisdiction ; this is made of henequen fiber. They export also [great] 

 quantities of cacao raised on the plantations [or chacras] owned by 

 residents of the city, along the banks of the rivers ; it goes to Peru, 

 New Spain, and the Spanish Main. Many ships come to this port 

 with cargoes from Lima and the valleys of lea and Pisco, with large 

 amounts of jugs of wine for consumption in the Kingdom of Quito 

 [for there are no vineyards there] ; thus this port communicates with 

 the whole Kingdom of Peru, with the Spanish Main, and New Spain ; 

 and it is from here that the gold ship of the Kingdom of Quito, 

 sets sail. 



1119. In this port and city there are [the] Officials of the Royal 

 Patrimony and a Royal Treasury ; it has Dominican, Franciscan, 

 and Augustinian convents and a [very good] hospital with other 

 churches and shrines. The city will have as many as 400 Spanish 

 residents. Its climate is hot and damp ; [but] the country is healthy, 

 on account of its salubrious breezes and water ; it is heavily wooded 

 and forested, and there is [great] abundance of [much very] delicious 

 native fruit. Twelve leagues away is the island of Puna, which is 



