WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES— VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 4O5 



intentions nullified by these oppositions. It is what happened to Gen. 

 Ursua also [as I shall tell in the accurate account of all that hap- 

 pened to him, which was given me one day by a resident of Chacha- 

 poyas named Altamirano who was with them, when I finish the 

 description of the district of Chachapoyas and the Corregimiento of 

 Luya and Chillaos and Jaen de Bracamoros, which is what at present 

 is comprised in the Diocese of Trujillo ; and Chachapoyas asks that 

 a prelate be located there in view of the need of one there and in 

 its provinces ; with his coming many evils would cease and other 

 crying needs would be satisfied, and his presence would lead to the 

 pacification of many provinces and their conversion to the Faith.] 



Chapter VIII 



Of the Description of the City of Chachapoyas, etc. [and Other 

 Cities.] 



1192. The city of Chachapoyas has over 200 Spanish residents of 

 aristocratic origin ; [the houses are tile-roofed and it looks very much 

 like a city in Spain.] It covers a very extensive area, for all the 

 houses, which are [very] well built, have gardens within ; and around 

 the city there are good outer wards where civilized Indians live, 

 many of them artisans ; and near the city there are gristmills where 

 they grind wheat. There are Indian villages within sight and near 

 the city. It has an excellent parish church with two curates, two 

 excellent convents, a Franciscan and a Mercedarian ; a [very good] 

 hospital named Santa Ana, where they care for the sick ; and other 

 churches and shrines. All the people in this city are very fine ; and 

 since it is so far inland in Peru, it is the court city for everyone 

 who travels or lives in those provinces. In this city they make much 

 point lace of henequen fiber, and [much] embroidery [because the 

 Spanish and Indian women in this city are among the best in Peru, 

 and avoid idleness.] In this neighborhood great pains have been 

 taken with the bridges ; besides being well built and perfectly adapted 

 for crossing the numerous rivers, they are all covered, so that one 

 hardly sees the streams, and one could stop off and sleep in them in 

 case of need, so well built and located are they. On the route from 

 Leimebamba to Chachapoyas there is a river which sinks underground 

 a number of times and comes out again three or four times, like the 

 Rio Guadiana in Spain. 



1193. This Corregimiento of Chachapoyas is in the appointment 

 of the Viceroy [and he puts a representative in Moyobamba.] The 

 whole country is very fertile and heavily wooded, with [many] sorts 



