250 A VOYAGE TO BookV. 



longitude from the meridian of Tcneriff. It stands 

 in the inland parts of the continent of South Americn, 

 and on the eastern skirts of the west Cordillera of 

 the Andes. Its distance ^rof-n the coast of the South 

 Sea is about 35 leagues v- est. Contiguous to ir, on 

 the north-vvesi:, is the mountain and desert of Fich!.n 

 cha, not less famous among strangers fon its great 

 heighc, than among the natives for the great riches it 

 has been imagined to contain ever since the times of 

 idolatry ; and this only from a vague and unsupport- 

 ed tradition. The city is buiit on the acclivity of that 

 mountain, and surrounded by others of a middling 

 height, among the breaches, or guáyeos, as they are 

 called" here, which form che eminences of Pichincha. 

 Some of these breaches are cl a considerable depth, 

 and run quite tiirough it, so tiiat great part of the 

 buildings stand upon arches. This renders the streets 

 irregular and extremely uneven, some being built 

 on the ascents, descents, and summits of the breaches. 

 This city, with regard to magnitude, may be com- 

 pared to one of the second order in Europe j but the 

 Tinevenness of ics situation is a great disadvantage to 

 its appearance. 



Near it are two spacious plains; one on the south 

 called Turu-bamba, three leagues inlengthj and the 

 other on the north, termed Inna-Quico, about two 

 leagues in extent. Both are interspersed with scats'and 

 cultivated lands, which greatly add to the prospect 

 from the city, being contmually covered with a lively 

 verdure, and the neighbouring plains and hills always 

 enamelled with flowers, there being here a perpetual 

 spring. This scene is beautifully diversitied with large 

 numbers of cattle feeding on the emuiences, though 

 the luxuriancy of the soil is such, that they cannot 

 consume all the herbage. 



These two plains contract as they approach the 

 city, and at their junction form a neck of land, co- 

 vered with these eminences on which part of CKnto 



stands. 



