Cu. II. SOUTH AMERICA. 21 



About biilf a leng'ue to the nodlnvard of it, is a rivu- 

 let, from Nvliiih are cut severiil trenchfs, for Aval cr- 

 ino- tho i^TOunds. Accordinj;-!) tlie lands are equiilly 

 íeríiíc with those of Truxilio, and the sanie may be 

 said of (he other setihMuenls fartficr up the river. 

 This plaee we left the same day, traveüinp; some- 

 times along' the shore, soivtctinies at a league distance 

 from it. 



On the (Sih \ve hahed in a desart place called Tam- 

 bo de Chao, and afterwards came to the banks of the 

 river Santa ; which havinj^ passed by means of ii\e 

 Chimbadores, we entered the town of the same 

 name, which lies at about a quarter of a leap:ue from 

 it, and 15 from Biru. The road being chiefly over 

 vast siindy plains intercepted between two hiiis. 



The river Santa, at the place where it is usisally 

 forded, is near a quarter of a lenii^-ue in breadth, form- 

 ing- five prin<-ipal streams, which run dining t!>c 

 whole year with great ra|>idity. it is always forded, 

 and for this purpose persons make it their business to 

 attend with very high horses, trained up to stem tlio 

 current, which is always \eYy strong. Tliey are 

 called Chimbadores; and must have an exact know- 

 ledge of the fords, in order to guide the loaded mules 

 in iheir passage, as otherwise the fording this river 

 woidd be scarce practicable, the floods ofien shifiing 

 the beds of the river ; so that even the Chimbadores 

 themsf-lves are not always safe ; for the fords being 

 enddcniy changed in one of the streams, they are 

 carried out of their depth In the current, and irre-f 

 trievably lost. During the winter season, in tlio 

 inouniains, it often swells to such a height, as not to 

 be forded for several days, and the passengers are ob- 

 liged to wait the fall of the waters, es]ieciaily if they 

 liave with them any goods; for those who travel with- 

 out baggage may, by goirg six or eight leagues abo\e 

 the iown, |;ass o\er it on bah.as made of calaljashes : 

 though even here not vrithü-wit dangej, for if the halza 



hapj'.eiii! 



