1 62 A VOYAGE TO Book IV. 



this diftemper to Guayaquil, I follow the general 

 opinion, as it was before that epocha unknown there. 

 The natives are very fubjeél to cataraéls, and other 

 diltempers of the eye, which often caufea total blind- 

 nefs. Though thefe diflempers are not general, yet 

 they are much more common than in other parts ; 

 and I am inclined to think it proceeds from the 

 aqueous exhalations during the winter, when the whole 

 country is cveriiowed with water, and which, from 

 the chalky texture of the foil, muft be vifcid in the 

 higheft degree; and, penetrating the external tunic, 

 not only foul the cryfialline humour, but alfo cover 

 the pupil, from whence catarafts, and other dilorders 

 of the eyes, have their origin. 



CHAP. VII. 



TrovifionSy and Manner of Living at Guayaquil, 



HERE, as at Carthagena, nature and neceffity 

 have introduced ft veral kinds of bread, made 

 from different grains and roots, to fupply the want of 

 wheat. The moft ufual here is the ci*iono, or natural 'i 

 bread, being unripe plantancs, cut into flices, roafted, 

 and ferved up as bread. But this is not entirely owing 

 to neccITitv, as fcveral kinds of meal might eaiily be 

 brought from the neighbouring mountains in fuf- 

 ficient quantities to fupply all the inhabitants of the 

 cit}'; though only a fmall fhare of it would fall to the 

 lot of the poor, on account of the price, v.hichvaftly 

 exceeds that of the plantanes. However this be, the 

 latter are defervedly preferred to wheat bread, which 

 is fo badly made, that even the Europeans refufe to 

 eat it, and accufrom themfelves to the criollo, which 

 is far from being unpalatable. 



Most of the other proviiions, except beef, fruits, 

 ajid roots, are imported from the provinces of the 



Cordel- 



