298 A VOYAGE TO Book VI. 



VIII. The city of Cuen9a, 

 IX. The city of Loja. 



Of these nine jurisdictions I shall give a succinct ac- 

 count in this and the following chapter, and then pro- 

 ceed to the governments. 



I. The town of San Miguel de Ibarra, is the. capi- 

 tal of the jurisdiction of that name, vi^hich also pon- 

 tains eight principal villages or parishes, the names of 

 which are, 



T. Mira. V. Salinas. 



II. Pimanpiro. VI. Tumbabiro. 



III. Carangue. VIL Quiíca. 



IV. San Antonio de Carangue. VIII. Caguasqui. 



This jurisdiction formerly included that of Otába- 

 lo; but, on account of its too enormous extent, it 

 was prudently divided into two. 



The town of San Mio-uel de Ibarra stands on the 

 extremity of a very large plain or meadow, at a small 

 distance from a chain of mountains to the eastward of 

 it, and betwixt two rivers, which keep this whole plain 

 in a perpetual verdure. The soil is soft and moist, 

 which not only renders the houses damp, but also 

 causes the foundations of their buildings often to 

 sink. It is moderately large, with straight broad 

 streets, and the greatest part of the houses of stone, 

 or unburnt bricks, and all tiled. The town is sur- 

 rounded by suburbs inhabited by the Indians, whose 

 cottages make the same appearance as in all other mean 

 placesj but the houses are neat and uniform, though 

 they are but low, having only a ground floor, except 

 those in the square, which have one story. The parish 

 church' is a large and elegant structure, and of the 

 same materials as the houses. It is 'also well orna- 

 jmented. This town has convents of Franciscans, Do- 

 minicans, the Fathers of Mercy, a college of Jesuits 



and 



