-o8 A VOYAGE TO Book V. 



sident of the province was Don Dionesio de Alzedo y 

 Herrera, who, besides providing apartments for us 

 in the palace of the Audencia, entertained us the 

 first three days with great splendour, during which we 

 were visited by the bishop, the auditors, the canons, 

 the regidores, and all other persons of any distinction, 

 who seemed to vie with each other in their civilities 

 towards us. 



In order to form an adequate idea of this country, 

 it will not be amiss, after being so particular in de- 

 scribino; the disagreeable oarts, and the many dangers 



o CD t ^ J c 



to which travellers are exposed, to add a description 

 of the most remarkable productions of nature. The 

 lands between the custom-house of Babahoyo, or 

 Caracol, and Guaranda, are of two kinds: the first, 

 which exlcnds to Tarigagua, is entirely level; and 

 the second, which begins at that part, wholly moun- 

 tainous. But both, and even two leagues beyond 

 Pucará, are full of thick forests of various kinds of 

 large trees, differing in the foliage, the disposition of 

 their branches, and the size of their trunks. The 

 mountains, which form this chain of the Andes, are, 

 on the west side, covered with woods ; but on the 

 east entirely bare. Among these mountains is the, 

 source of that river which, being increased on all 

 sides by brooks, makes so grand an appearance be- 

 tween Caracol and Guayaquil, and proves so advan- 

 tageous to the commerce of the country. 



In the level part of this woody extent are a great 

 number of animals and birds, of the same kind with 

 those described in our account oí Carthagena, except 

 that to the last may be added wild peacocks^ bustards, 

 pheasants, and a few others, which are here in such 

 abundance, that, did they not always rest on the tops of 

 the trees, where, either from their enormous height, or 

 being covered with leaves, tliey mq, secure, a travel- 

 ler, with a good fowling-piece and ammunition, might 

 at any time procure himself an elegant repast. Bat . 

 7 these 



