áO A VOYAGE TO Book VÍÍ. 



all ilic oilier rasls. Anions; tlic foruior arc several 

 very rich and distiiiii^ni ;lied iamilics. All in g-eneral 

 uro very civil and fri(;nd!y, and regular in tlieir con- 

 duct. The \vonien in their dress and customs follow 

 nearly those of Lima, an account of ^vhich ^vili be 

 j:;iven in the sequel. Great number of cliaiscs arc ¡icen 

 here, there not beinii; a family of any credit without 

 one; as the sandy soil is very troublesome in walking;. 

 In this climate, there is a sensible dilfcrence be- 

 tween winter and summer, the former beiuii; attend- 

 ed with cold, and the latter with excessive heat. 

 Tlie covmtrj of this whole valley is cxtremeiy fruitful, 

 «bounding with sugar canes, maize, fruits, and 

 garden stuff; and with vinevards and olive yards. 

 The parts of the countrv nearest the mouniains pro- 

 duce wheat, barley, and other grain ; so that the in- 

 habitants enjoy not onl-y a plenty of all kinds of pro- 

 visions, but aiso make considerable exports to Pana- 

 ma, especially of wheat and sugars. This remarka- 

 ble fertility has been improved to the great embel- 

 lishment of the country ; so that the city is surroiuid- 

 ed by several groves, and delightful walks of trees. 

 The gardens also are well cultivated, and make a 

 very beautiful appearance ; which with a continual 

 serene sky, prove not less agreeable to travellers than 

 to the inhabitants. 



About a league from the city is a river, whose 

 waters are conducted by various canals, through this 

 deliglitlul country: We forded it on the Hh wlien we 

 left Truxillo ; and on Ihe 5th, after passing through 

 Moclie, we came to Biru, ten leagues from Truxillo. 

 The pass of the corregidor of Truxillo must be pro- 

 duced to the aicade of Moche, for wií bout this, as 

 bel'ore at Sechura, no person vvould be admitted to 

 continue bis journey. 



BiKu, \shich lies in 8" 24' 59" S. latitude, con- 

 sists of 50 baxareqne houses, inhabited by 70 families 

 of Spaniards, ladians, Mulattoes, and Mestizos. 



About 



