Ch.1V. south AMÉRICA. 155 



country, and the ufe it is here applied to; retaining 

 its folidity either under the water or in the mud. 

 Before thefc fortifi- ations were ereiled, the city was 

 taken by European corfairs, in the years -^ 686 and' 

 1709; but the fuccefs oí the latter was OAving to the 

 villany of a Mulatto, who, in order to revenge him- 

 felf on tome particular perfons in the city, condu6led*» 

 the enemy through a by-way, where they were not 

 cxpeded^ fo that the inhabitants, being Inrprifcd, were 

 not prepared for defence. 



All the churches and convents are of wood, except ' 

 that of St. Domingo, ftill ftanding in the old town, 

 which is of ftone ; the great folidit) of the ground in 

 that part being fuiiirient for fupporting buildings of 

 this kind.' The convents in the new city, beñdes 

 the parochial church, are an Auguftine and a Ffan- 

 cifcan, with a college of Jefuits ; the members of 

 them not very numerous, on account of the Iraallnefs 

 of the revenues. Here is alfo an hofpital, but with- 

 out any other endowment than the fhell of the build- 

 ing. The city and its jurifdi(5tion are under a corregi- 

 dor, nominated by the king, who holds his oflice dd-* 

 ring five years. Notwithftanding he is fubordinate to 

 the' preñdent and audience of Qaito, he appoints the 

 deputies in the feveral departments of his jurifdiiiiion ; 

 and. for the police and civil government, Guayaquil 

 , has ofdinary alcaldes and regidores. The revenue is 

 managed here by a treafurer and an accomptant, who 

 receive the tributes of the Indians, the duties on im- 

 ports and exports, and the taxes on commodities, 

 which are either confumed there, or carried through it. 

 The ecclefiaftical government is lodged in the 

 biihop of Quito's vicar, who is generally alfo the 

 prieft of the town, ' % 



CHAP. 



