290 A VOYAGE TO Book V. 



worm, but whiter than the husk of the grain. It is 

 an annual plant, being sowed and reaped every year. 

 The stem is about three or four feet in height, and 

 has a large pointed leaf, something like that of the 

 malloroi the flower is -of a deep red, and five or six 

 inches in length, and in it are contained the grains 

 or seed. The quinoa is eaten boiled like rice, and 

 has a very pleasant taste ; and the water in \vhich it 

 has been boiled, is often used as an apozem. The 

 quinoa is used in external applications, in order to 

 which it is ground and boiled to a proper consistence; 

 and applied to the part affected, from which it soon 

 extracts all corrupt humours occasioned by a con- 

 tusion. 



Besides domestic animals, here are great numbers 

 of rabbits caught on the deserts. The partridges are 

 not very plenty, and rather resemble a quail than those 

 of Europe. Turtle-doves abound here, greatly owing 

 to the indolence of the inhabitants in not endeavouring 

 to take them. 



But one of the principal foods used by the inhabi- 

 tants is cheese, of which it is computed that the quan- 

 tity annually confumed amounts to between 70 and 80 

 thousand dollars of that country money. It is used in 

 various manners, and is the chief ingredient in many 

 dishes. The neighbourhood of Quito also affords ex- 

 cellent butter, and of which there is a great consump- 

 tion, but falls far short of that of cheese. 



The fondness of these people for sweetmeats ex- 

 ceeds every thing I have ever mentioned of other 

 countries; and this necessarily occasions a great con- 

 sumption of sugar and honey. One method of in- 

 dulging this appetite is, to squeeze the juice out of 

 the sugar canes, let it settle, and curdle it, out of 

 which they make small cakes, which they call raspa- 

 duras. This is so highly valued by the lower class, 

 that with a slice of it, and another of bread and cheese, 

 they make as hearty a meal as the rich with all tl^ir 



varieif- 



