Ch. T. south AMERICA. 305 



anee of the winds. In the territories of this jurisdic- 

 tion are two lakes, one called San Pablo, from a vil- 

 lage of that name on itsbanks; it is a league in length, 

 and about half a league in breadth. This lake is 

 every where surrounded with a species of rushes called 

 there totoral, among which are vast flocks of wild 

 geese and gallarctes. This lake receives its water 

 from the mountam ofMojanda; and from it issues one 

 of the, branches of the Rio Blanco. The other lake, 

 which has nearly the same dimensions as the former, 

 is called Curchocha, and is situated in a plain on the 

 side of a mountain of the same name. Near the mid- 

 dle of this are two islands, both which abound with 

 wild cuyes, a species of rabbit?, and deer, which 

 often swim to main land j but, when pursued by the 

 hunters, disappoint them by gaining the lake, and 

 swimming back to their retreat. Several small fish 

 are found in this lake, resembling the cray-fis^h, but 

 without a shell. They are called, by the inhabitants 

 of the adjacent country, prennadillas, and arc sent in 

 the pickle toQuito, where they are the more esteemed, 

 as being the only fresh water fish that can be bought in 

 that city. Nor are these caught in any great quantities, 

 though they are also found in the lake of San Pablo. 



III. The jurisdiction of Quito consists of the fol- 

 lowing twenty-five parishes, besides those in the city: 



