3ia A VOYAGE TO Book VI. 



lage of Guano, who are famed for their manufactures 

 of worsted stockings, and it is indeed the only place in 

 the whole province where they are made. This in- 

 dustrious disposition probably gave rise to the large 

 flocks of sheep in this jurisdiction, whence these ma- 

 nufactories are never in want of wool. The soil is 

 very fertile, producing all kinds of grain and pulse in 

 abundance. And here is most frequently seen what 

 l-4!ave elsewhere observed: t!i:ii» in one part the 

 husbandmen are sowmg, in another reaping; the 

 landscape also elegantly adorned with such an en- 

 chanting variety of colours as painting cannot ex- 

 press. 



ÍN this jurisdiction is a large plain lying south of 

 the town of Tiocaxas, and famous for a battle be- 

 tween the Spaniards comiriandcd by Belalcazar and 

 the puruayes Indians, before their courage had been 

 depressed by the ominous explosion ofthe mountain. 

 Both armies fought with great obstinacy, though nei- 

 ther gained the victory. 



The assiento of Hambato stands in a wide plain at 

 the bottom of a mountain. On the N. side of it 

 runs a large river^ over which a bridge has been built, 

 it being never fordable on account of its depth and 

 extreme rapidity. It is finely situated, and in extent 

 and poijulousness nearly equal to Latacunga, the num- 

 ber of its inh.ibiiants amounting to eight or nine 

 thousand. The houses are ofunburnt bricks, v/ell 

 contrived, and make a good appearance. VV^ith re- 

 gard to their lowness, it is owing to a discreet pre- 

 caution against the melancholy shocks of earthquakes, 

 it has a parish-church,, two chapels of ease, and a 

 convent of Franciscans. The earthquake which made 

 buch terrible havock in the assiento of Latacunga, 

 proved alto fatal to this. The earth near it ofjened 

 in several places, of which there still remains an as- 

 tonishishing monument on the S. side ofthe assiento, 

 being a chasm lour or live feet broad, and about a 



league 



