102 A VOYAGE TO Book YII. 



isj that thoup-h built on the surface oft'e earih, 

 Avithout anv foundation, they have withstood those 

 vioU'Pt earthquakes which overthrew the more solid 

 build rg* of Lima and other large towns erected in 

 the Sjjanish manner : having: received no other da- 

 mage than \\ hat naturally results from being forsaken, 

 or what the drivers have done v/ho make it a resting 

 place for their cattle in the road to Lima. 



From the construction of tho'^e houses it may be 

 inferred, that long experience has instructed the na- 

 tives, that in parts so subject to earthquakes, it was 

 improper to lay a foundation in order to strengthen 

 the VAalls; and tradition informs us, that wlien 

 the newly conquered Indians saw the Spaniards dig 

 foundations for lofty buildings, they laughed at 

 them, telling them they were digging their own se- 

 pulchres ; intimating, that the earthquakes v\'Ould 

 bury them under the ruins of their houses. It is 

 indeed a melancholy proof of pride and obstinacy, 

 that after having the prudent example of the In- 

 dians before their eyes, the total ruin of the city at 

 four ditferent times in less than the space of two hun- 

 dred years has not been able entirely to eradicate 

 the destructive passion for airy and elegant buildings, 

 though these necessarily require large and lofty walls, 

 which must have a foundation proportional to the 

 magnitude of the structure, and the weight they are 

 to support. 



CHAP. IX. 



Of the Plenti/ and different Kinds of Provisions at 

 JAma. 



^ I ^ M E fertility of the soil, the goodness of the 

 -■- climate, and the convenient situation of Lima, 

 concur to maintain in it a constant plenty. The 



fruits 



