134 A VOYAGE TO Book VII, 



V. The jiuisclictioa of Calcajlarcs begins four 

 leagues W. of the city of Cusco. The air every 

 where excels that of all other provinces, and accord- 

 ingly produces an exuberance of all kinds of grain 

 and fruits. In the hottest parts called Lares, were 

 formerly very large plantations of sugar canes, but 

 for want of hands to cultivate them, they are at pre- 

 sent so diminished, that instead of sixty or eighty 

 thousand arohas, which they annually produced in 

 the time of their prosperity, they arc now reduced to 

 something less than thirty ; but the sugar is of such 

 an excellent kind, that without any other preparation 

 than that of the country, it is equal both in colour 

 and hardness to the refined sugar of Europe. This 

 diminution of its sugar, has greatly lessened the 

 principal branch of its commerce. 



VI. S. E. of Cusco, and at the distance of about 

 seven or eight leagues, begins the jurisdiction of Chil- 

 ques and Masques, extending above thirty leagues in 

 length. The temperature of the air is proportioned 

 to the situation of its several parts, some of which are 

 very fertile in grain, and others feed vast numbers of 

 cows and sheep. But besides these its commerce is 

 greatly augmented by the woollen manufactures of 

 the Indians. 



VII. S. W. of Cusco, and about twenty leagues 

 distance, begins the jurisdiction of Cotabamba, which 

 afterwards extends above thirty leagues between the 

 rivers Avancay and Apuriniac, in which extent are 

 diííerent temperatures of air. It abounds in all kinds 

 of cattle^ and the temperate parts produce plenty of 

 wheat, maize, and fruits. Here arc also mines of 

 silver and gold, the richness of which formerly ren- 

 dered this province very flourishing ; but at present 

 their producéis greatly declined. 



VIII. The jurisdiction of Canas and Canches or 

 Tinta^ begins about flirteen or twenty leagues S. of 

 Cusco, and extends about twenty leagues in every 



direction. 



