Ch. Vn. SOUTH AMERICA. 291 



variety of dishes. Thus it appears, that if there be 

 some difference between c'.e foods used here and those 

 of Spain, the difference in iheir preparing them is 

 still oreater. 



CHAP. VIII. 



Of th? Commerce of the Province of ^ito. 



FROM the two preceding chapters, a sufficient 

 judgment may be formed of the products and 

 manufactures in the province of Quito, which are the 

 sources of its commerce. The persons who are the 

 chief conductors of this commerce, are the Europeans 

 or Chapitones ; some settled here, and others coming 

 occasionally. The latter purchase the country goods, 

 and sell those of Europe. The manufactures of this 

 province, as we have already noticed, are only cottons, 

 some white called tucuyos, and others striped bays 

 and cloths, which meet with a good market at Lima 

 for supplying all the inward provinces of Peru. The 

 returns are made partly in silver, partly in gold and 

 silver thread fringes made in that city ; wine, brandy, 

 oil, copper, tin, lead, and quicksilver. The masters 

 of the manufactures either sell their goods to the tra- 

 ders, or employ them as their factors. 



On the arrival of the galleons at Carthagena, the 

 traders resort thither either by the way of Popayan or 

 that of Santa Fé, to purchase European goods, which, 

 at their return, they consign to their correspondents all 

 over the province.. 



The products of the earth are chiefly consumed 

 tvithin the province^ except the wheat produced in the 

 jurisdiction of Riobamba ¿nd Chimbo, part of which 

 are sent to Guayaquil. But this is a trade carried on 

 only by Mestizos and poor people. It would indeed 

 admit of great improveme:.t.^, were not the freights so 



U 2 excessively 



