682 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I02 



was built in the plain on these bluffs because of the river floods, and 

 although all those plains or pampas may be covered, they never reach 

 the city on account of its lofty site. It lies in 25° S. and has a hot 

 climate, although with winter and summer, the reverse of in Spain. 



1795. The city will have over 650 Spanish residents, of whom 

 250 will be encomenderos de Indios ; there will be in the city 1 1 ,000 

 mujeres de manto, as was stated on the authority and testimony of 

 the curates' lists in the year 1623. This city is the residence of the 

 Bishop and of the Governor who is appointed by His Majesty in 

 consultation with his Royal Council of the Indies. He is Captain 

 General over all the district and apportions the Indians who become 

 available and are newly converted in all those regions, in which there 

 are still many tribes and provinces to subdue. 



1796. There is a very fine Cathedral with three naves, all built 

 of urundey wood which is very valuable and the best to be had in 

 all the Indies, very fragrant and hard. It is all very elaborately 

 wrought and finished. The roof is of palm-wood shingles, each 

 2 or 3 yards long ; these are better than clay tiles, being lighter and 

 not liable to crack and lasting 50 years before needing renewal ; 

 it has a wooden bell tower with four bells. This church has very 

 rich and costly ornaments, sent to it by the Emperor Charles V 

 of glorious memory when it was built. That church is very well 

 served, the Bishop and Prebendaries being in attendance, and its 

 orchestra. 



1797. It has Dominican, Franciscan, Mercedarian, and Jesuit con- 

 vents, the latter also maintaining its college and seminary, where 

 the sons of this country study. This and the Mercedarian convent 

 stand on the Plaza. Besides the Cathedral there are two parishes ; 

 one is named Nuestra Senora del Rosario and has a curate for 

 Spaniards ; the other parish is named San Bias ; it is for Indians 

 and has a curate to catechize them and administer the Holy Sacra- 

 ments. There is a hospital for the care of the indigent sick, and 

 two shrines at the entrance to the city, one dedicated to San Roque 

 and the other to Santa Lucia. It has a house for orphan girls which 

 was established by a sainted lady named Francisca de Bocanegra ; 

 here are gathered together over 100 women, young orphan girls, 

 widows, and married women, who in great retirement and with pious 

 example support themselves by their industry and labor and with 

 a few contributions which are given them. 



1798. The site of the city is marvelous and superb, with a fine 

 view, since it is up on a height, from which one can see on the other 

 side of the river wide plains and fields bare of trees and covered 



