6 A VOYAGE TO Book VII 



observe the laiitude, Avhich we did on the ninth with 

 a quadrant, and found it to be 3^' \o 16" south. 



Near Tumbez, is a river of the same name, which 

 discliarges itself into the bay of Guavaquil, almost 

 opposite to the island of St. Clare. Barks, boats, 

 balzas, and cancos, may go up and down this river, 

 being* three fathom deep and tweity-iive broad; 

 but it is dangerous going up it in the winter season, 

 tlie impetuosity of its current being then increased bv 

 torrents from the mountains. At a little distance 

 from the Cordillera, on one side of the banks of the 

 river, stands the town ofTumbez in a very sandy plain, 

 interspersed with some small eminentes. The town 

 consists only of seventy houses, built of cane, and 

 thatclicd, scattered up and down without any order or 

 symmetry. In these houses are about one hundred 

 and fifty families of Mestizos, Indians, Mulaltoes, and 

 a few Spaniards. There are besides these other fami- 

 lies living along the banks of the river, who having the 

 conveniency of waterivig their grounds, continually 

 employ themselves in rural occupations. 



The heat is excessive ; nor hav^ they licre any 

 rain for several years successively ; but when it begins 

 to fail, it continues during the winter. The whole 

 country from the town of Tunibc/, to Lima, con- 

 tained between the foot ol" the Cordillera and the sea, 

 is known by the name of Valles, whicli we mention 

 here, as it will often occur in the remaining parts of 

 this narrative. 



Ti MBEZ was the place where in the year ] 526, the 

 Spaniards first landed in these parts of South 

 America, under the command of Don Francisco 

 l*izarro ; and where he entered into several friendly 

 confere;ces with the princes of the country, but 

 Aa-.sals to the Yncas. If the Indians were surprized 

 aL the sight of the Spaniards, the latter were equally 

 so at the prodigious riches which they every where 

 HNV, apd ^he hMgeiiesb of the palaces, ca>tles, and 



temples ; 



