190 A VOYAGE TO Book VII. 



ill a general sense, we not having entered into many 

 particulars made or produced in some towns, and 

 ¿ot common to others ; as may be observed in the 

 description of Quito. But these accounts drawn from 

 our own experience, and the relations of persons of 

 undoubted veracity, we hope will not prove unac- 

 ceptable to the reader, who is desirous of forming a 

 true idea of these parts, which for their riches, fer- 

 tility, prodigious extent, and ma,ny other particulars, 

 merit the greatest attention ; especially for the amaz- 

 ing success which has attended the propagation of the 

 christian religion, in countries formerly involved in 

 ignorance and inhumanity.* 



* It is supposed, that the kings of Spnin and Portugal hare five 

 times the number of subjects in their American settlements than in 

 their respective kingdoms. Notwithstanding which yon may travel 

 in America twenty leagues together, and not see a hut, except yoa 

 are in tlie neighbourhood of some of the great towns : so great are 

 the tracts of land possessed by each prince, ■ A. 



l^OOK 



