384 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I02 



rich mines of gold ore, or veins ; as in Zaruma, the mineral is shot 

 through with gold. Then there is virgin gold in nuggets, needing 

 no treatment, and in gold dust, which is what they wash and get out 

 of the rivers and watercourses, for all those in this province carry 

 it in abundance. If there were only people to extract it, this would 

 be one of the wealthiest and most prosperous provinces in the world. 

 They raise corn and other fruit and root crops, and excellent tobacco. 



1142. The district of this State includes 90 leagues to the E. 

 already pacified, and borders on extensive and wealthy provinces of 

 heathen to be converted to the Faith ; but it is very hard and difficult 

 country, with steep mountains and huge rivers. All this belongs to 

 the district of the Circuit Court of Quito, which borders to the S. 

 on the Circuit Court of Los Reyes, or Lima. 



Chapter 17 (sic) 



Of the Corregimientos and Curacies in the Territory of the Diocese 

 of Quito. 



1143. In the district of the Diocese of Quito there are 10 Corregi- 

 mientos and I State. His Majesty, in consultation with the Supreme 

 Council of the Indies, appoints to those of Quito, Guayaquil, Loja, 

 and Zaruma, Cuenca, the State of Los Quixos ; appointments are 

 made to the 4 following by the Viceroy of Peru : Riobamba, Chimba, 

 Latacunga, Otavalo, and in addition, Zaguarzongo; the Governor of 

 Popayan appoints to that of Pasto. There are also 170 curacies, 100 

 under priests and 70 under friars, as follows. 



1144. In the Corregimiento of the City of Quito and within its 

 5 leagues, 20 curates, clerics of the parish church, Santa Barbara, 

 Santa Prisca, San Bias, San Marcos, San Sebastian, San Roque, in 

 the Indian villages of Machangara, Machangarilla, Chillogallo, Cono- 

 coto, Sangolqui, Cumbaya, Tumbaco, Quembo y Piso, Yaruqui, 

 Quinche, Huaillobamba, Zambeza; and in Los Yumbos, a friar of 

 the Mercedarian Order. 



1145. In the Corregimiento of Guayaquil and Puerto Vie jo, 7 

 cleric curates, and 3 Mercedarian friars in the district of Puerto 

 Vie jo and Puna. 



In the Corregimiento of Loja, 5 cleric curates and 4 Dominican 

 friars. 



In the Corregimiento of Cuenca, 11 cleric ciu'ates and 3 Domini- 

 can and Franciscan friars. 



In the State of Los Quixos, 5 cleric curates and 3 Mercedarian 

 friars. 



