■211 A VOYAGE TO BookV. 



on the principal part of our commission. Nor will 

 eve. i this appear a small matter, if the great distance 

 and diversity of climates be considered. A few of 

 the first days after our arrival were spent in making 

 proper returns for the civilities we had received from 

 all persons of rank J after which, we began to deli- 

 berate on the best methods of performing our work; 

 and the rather, as M. Bouguer and de la Condamine 

 were now arrived. The former reached Quito on 

 the loth of June, by the same road of Guaranda ; 

 and the latter on the 4th of the same month, having 

 taken liis route by the river of Emeralds, in the go- 

 vernment of Atacames. 



Our first operation was, to measure a y>lece of 

 ground, which was to be the base of the whole work ; 

 and this we finished during the remainder of the cur- 

 rent year. But it proved a very difñcult and fatiguing 

 operation, from the heat of the sun, and the winds and 

 rains, which continually incommoded us. The plain 

 made choice of tor this base is situated 249 toises 

 lower than Quito, and four leagues to the N. E. of 

 that city. It is called the plain of Yaruqui, from a 

 village of that name near it. This plain was parti- 

 cularly chosen, as the best adapted to our operations; 

 for though there are several others in this district, 

 yet all of them, lay at too great a distance from the 

 direction of our base. The quality, disposition, and 

 lower situation, all contribute to render it less cold 

 than Quito. Eastward it is defended by the lofty 

 •Cordillera of Guamani and Pambamarca, and west- 

 ward by that of Pichincha. The soil is entirely 

 «and ; so that, besides the heat naturally resulting 

 from the direct rays of the sun, it is increased by the 

 rays being reverberated by the two Cordilleras : 

 hence it is also exposed to violent tempests of thun- 

 der, lightning, and rain ; but, beiVig quite open to- 

 wards ti:c north and south, such dreadful whirlwinds 

 form here, that the whole interval is filled with co- 

 lumns 



