Ch.VIII. south AMERICA. 173 



The country of this jurifdidion, being level and 

 low, on the firft fwellings of the rivers Caluma, Ujiba, 

 and Caracol, is overflowed to a prodigious diilance, 

 though at different depths, particularly at Babahoyo, 

 where the waters rife to the tirlt ilory of the houles ; 

 fo that during the winter it is entirely forfaken. 



The country of this jurifdiótion, as well as that of 

 Baba, contiguous to it, abounds in fuch numbers of 

 cacao plantations, that many are negledled, and their 

 fruit left to themonkies and other animals, which are 

 thus happily provided for by the fpontaneous fertility 

 of the ground, without any afíiliance from agricul- 

 ture. It alfo produces cotton, rice, Guiney pepper, 

 and a great variety of fruits. It has likewite large 

 droves of black cattle, borles, and mules, which, 

 during the time the country is under water, are kept- 

 in the mountains; but, as foon as the lands are dry, 

 are driven down to fatten on tlie gamalotes, a plant of 

 fuch luxuriance, as to cover entirely tlie ground; its 

 lieight exceeds two yards and a half, it alio grows fo 

 tliick, as to preclude all paifage, even along tiie paths 

 made by the traders. 



The blade of the gamalote relemblcstliat of barley, 

 but longer, broader, thicker, and rougher. The green 

 is deep, but lively, and the fralk diverfiiied with knots, 

 from which the leaves, which are ftrong, and fome- 

 thiuil above two lines in diameter, have their origin. 

 When the gamalote is at its full growth, the height of 

 water, during the floods, by riiing above its top, preiTes 

 it down, and rots it ; lb that, wiien the v^'aiers ebb 

 away, the earth feems covered widi it*^, but at the firft 

 impieliion of the tun it Ihoots again, and, in a lew 

 days, abounds in the lame plenty as before. One thing 

 remarkable in it is, that, though it proves fo nouriih- 

 ing to the cattle qf this diftrici, it is ycrv noxious to 

 thofe from the Cordillera, as has been often expe- 

 rienced, 



Bab¿^ 



