Ch. yil. SOUTH AMERICA. 163 



Cordelleros and Peru. It would naturally be expeé^- 

 ed, that the feveral branches of this river, which 

 abounds in fiih, would caufe a great plenty of thera 

 in the city ; but it is quite otherwife, and the fmall 

 quantity caught near it is far from being good, and 

 fo bony, that none but the inhabitants can eat them 

 without danger. Their badnefs in the neighbourhood 

 of the city is probably owing to the brackiíK water; 

 but fome. leagues above the city, the river affords a 

 great fupply of what is very excellent. In fuch hot 

 climates, however, they cannot be kept without fait ; 

 and it is feldom the filhermen venture to carry any to 

 the city, left, after all their labour, they ihould be 

 obliged to throw them away. 



The coafts and neighbouring ports abound in very 

 delicious fifh, fome of which are carried to the city, 

 as keeping better than the fpecies in the river ; and 

 thefe, together with feveral of the teftaceous kind, 

 x:onftitute a confiderable part of the food of the in- 

 habitants of Guayaquil. In the falt-creek are taken 

 very large and fine lobfters, of which they make deli- 

 cious ragouts : and from Jambeli creek, on the coaft 

 of Tumbez, are brought great quantities of oyfters, 

 which, in every refpc6t, furpafs thofe of all the coafis 

 from Panama to Peru, where there is aUba great de- 

 mand for them. 



The fame caufe which drives from that part of the 

 river near the city the fineft fifh, fome to the fait and 

 others to the freih waters, according to their refpe6live 

 natures, renders good water very fcarce at Guayaquil, 

 efpecially in fimimer ; none being to be had at a lefs 

 diftance than four or five leagues up the river, ac- 

 cording to the height of its waters. Many balzas are 

 therefore employed in fetching water, and felling it to 

 the inhabitants. During the winter, this trade is 

 partly at a ftand, as, by the iiicreafe of the rivers, the 

 water at Guayaquil is rendered fit for ufe. 



M. ^ In&teap- 



