WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQI^EZ DE ESPINOSA 3/9 



is very pleasant and attractive, with abundance of cheap and excellent 

 supplies, just like the city of Quito, there being quantities of cattle 

 in its neighborhood. They raise much wheat and corn and make 

 [much] flour which they export to the city of Guayaquil by the port 

 of Vola, and excellent cheese and ham made in the district and 

 exported to the mines of San Antonio de Zaruma, which are 22 

 leagues from the Corregimiento of Loja. There is a Corregidor in 

 this city appointed by [the Council] His Majesty; he governs it and 

 all its provinces, which are : Paute, Los Canares, Giron, and Alausi, 

 which is the farthest to the N., bordering on the Corregimiento of 

 Riobamba. There are very sumptuous buildings in the district like 

 that at Tomebamba and others, of the time of the Inca kings. The 

 city has a fine parish church, Dominican, Franciscan, Augustinian, 

 and Mercedarian convents, and a nunnery. La Concepcion, all excellent 

 and devout ; there is a hospital for the sick, and other churches and 

 shrines, and over 50 clerics, sons of residents of the city ; in fact, 

 since it has so many they call it Cuenca de Los Clerigos. This city 

 and its adjoining provinces sufler dire need since they go long periods 

 without episcopal visits or confirmations, and they petition that they 

 be granted a Bishop, since they are in the center of the remotest 

 part of the Diocese of Quito ; that he be given for jurisdiction the 

 Corregimientos of Guayaquil, Loja, their own, and that Zaguarzongo ; 

 thus it will more easily be possible to have episcopal visits and con- 

 firmations and other existing evils will be obviated, and both churches 

 will have sufficient revenues [and they will be very rich], since living 

 is cheap and abundant there. 



1128. Running E. and W. to the N. of the city is a small stream 

 of crystal-clear water, on whose banks are many gristmills and fruit 

 orchards, both of native and Spanish varieties, [like] pears, peaches, 

 apples, quinces, etc. In the district there are many plantations of 

 sugarcane, from which they make sugar and syrup enjoyed in the 

 city, and preserves exported to Guayaquil. The country produces 

 quantities of wheat, corn, and other cereals, cattle, mares, and mules. 

 An excellent horse for carriage or saddle sells here for 12 reals, more 

 or less. They manufacture and produce excellent ramrods in this 

 city, the best made in the whole kingdom. The city is at 2°30' S.; 

 12 leagues to the E. is the Province of the Jibaros, subdued by Gov. 

 Juan de Salinas at the same time with that of Zaguarzongo ; he 

 established in it the city of Logrono de Los Caballeros, which 

 through bad management was carried by storm by these Jibaro 

 Indians, who massacred all the Spaniards and burnt down the 

 churches ; and for the more than 30 years succeeding, these savages 



