whole vol. the west indies — vazquez de espinosa 513 



Chapter LIV [55] (56) 



Of the Wide Jurisdiction of the Diocese, and Its Need of a Bishop. 



1410. The Diocese of Arequipa has very extensive jurisdiction ; 

 in fact, merely along the seacoast plains from the Acari Valley, 70 

 leagues N. of Arequipa, [its boundary against the Archdiocese of 

 Lima], to the valley of Pica [which comes before] and Tarapaca on 

 the S., [12 leagues], which is the last point within the jurisdiction 

 of Arica, distant [from it] over 40 leagues to the S. and its [coast] 

 boundary with the Atacama deserts, limit of the district of this 

 diocese, it is 180 leagues. Along the sierra it contains the Provinces 

 of Los Collaguas, Condesuyos, Ubinas, and others, with large settle- 

 ments and rich tithes, for [all] the country is [very] wealthy. But 

 the Bishop cannot manage to pay episcopal visits and hold confirma- 

 tions, as he is under obligation to do, nor can he meet other needs. 

 For a long time the city of San Marcos de Arica, 65 leagues S. of 

 Arequipa, has been requesting a Bishop [to be given it] to meet the 

 needs it experiences [in this respect] and because it is new country 

 and every day brings up something which requires a solution. 

 It is possible to divide it up, and it is desirable to do so, for the 

 reasons advanced by the city [and I shall explain some of them]. 

 If the division be made, the line [on the coast] should be along the 

 Hilo Valley, which is 36 leagues S. of Arequipa, passing up the 

 valley through Moquegua, which is 40 leagues S. Thus the juris- 

 diction of Arequipa would run to the line referred to, limit of the 

 Circuit Court of Lima, since the river running through the valley 

 is the boundary. Then the southern part of the valley will belong 

 to the new Diocese which should be located at the city of Arica, and 

 each will be manageable and have sufficient income and be better 

 administered, and other requirements would be met which are well 

 known and which I myself verified, having traveled, observed, and 

 considered with special care when I was in that country, and I noted 

 everything and looked into it, with a desire for its improvement. 



1411. From the Moquegua Valley and the town of Santa Catalina 

 [San Francisco de Esquilache] it is 13 leagues down to Locumba. 

 From the settlement of Moquegua one passes down the valley 3 

 leagues among many farms in wheat, aji, and other crops and vege- 

 tables, until one leaves the valley and travels S. for 10 leagues over 

 an uninhabitable desert of sand and ashes, arriving in the Locumba 

 Valley. This is formed by two rivers which come down from the 

 sierra and unite near a little Indian settlement, where the church 

 stands and all the residents of the valley come to hear Mass on feast 

 34 



