Ch. i. south AMERICA. 207 



which we reached at one in the afternoon, after passing 

 several torrents, breaches, or chasms of the mountain 

 Carguairaso, another mountain covered with snow, a 

 little north of Chimborazo. Amono- these chasms is 

 one without water, the earth remaining dry to the 

 depth of twelve feet. This chasm was caused by a 

 violent earthquake, which shall be spoken of in its 

 place. 



On the 25th, the thermometer at Hambato, at half 

 an hour after five in the morning, stood at loio, and 

 on the 26th, at six in the morning, at 10093. This 

 day, having passed the river of Hombato, and after- 

 wards that of St. Miguel, by help of a wooden bridge, 

 we arrived at Latacunga. 



On the 27th, at six in the morning, the thermome- 

 ter was at 1007, when leaving Latacunga we reached 

 in the evening the town of Mula-Halo, having in the 

 way forded a river called Alaques. 



On the 28th, the liquor of the thermometer was at 

 the same height as at Latacunga, and we proceeded on 

 our journey, arriving in the evening at the mansion^ 

 house or villa called Chi Shinche. The first part of 

 this day's journey was over a large plain, at the end ot 

 which we had the pleasure of passing by a stricture 

 that belonged to the Pagan Indians, being a palace 

 of the Yncas. It is called Callo, and gave name to 

 the plain. We afterwards came to an acclivity, at 

 the top of which we entered on the plain of Tiopullo, 

 not less in extent than the first ; and at the bottom, 

 towards the north, is the house where we were enter- 

 tained that night. 



On the 29lh, the thermometer at six- in the morn- 

 ing was at 1003^-. We set out the earlier, as this 

 was to be our last journey. A road crossing several 

 breaches and beaten tracks, brought us to a spacious 

 plain called Tura-Bamba, that is, a muddy plain ; at 

 the other extremity of which stands the city of Quito, 

 where we arrived at five in the evening. The pre- 

 sident 



