Ch. II. SOUTH AMERICA. 517 



beauty to its situation, is, that the mountains are not 

 so high as to intercept the view of a beautiful coun- 

 try; but at a proper distance they rise again to their 

 stupendous height, as is seen in the mountain Azuay, 

 which divides this jurisdiction from that of Alausi. 



CuENc}A contains three parishes; that of the great 

 church consists of Spaniards and Mestizos; the two 

 others, which a^*e called San Bias and San Sebastian, 

 are for the Indians. Here are convents of Franciscans, 

 Dominicans, Augustines, and the Fathers of Mercy; 

 a college of Jesuits, and two nunneries, one of the 

 Conception, and the other of Santa Teresa. Here is 

 also an hospital, but through ill management now al- 

 most in ruins. 



The magistracy is composed of regidores and ordi- 

 nary alcaldes, which, according to the general custom, 

 are chosen annually, and at their head is the corregi- 

 dor. Here is a chamber of finances, under the di- 

 rection of an accomptant and treasurer. It was for- 

 merly kept in the city of Sevilla del Oro, a juris- 

 diction, and the capita) of the department of Maca?; 

 but on the loss of the city of Logroño, the village of 

 Cuambaya and other places, it was removed to Loja, 

 and since to Cuenca. The revenues paid into it 

 consist of the tribute of the Indians of this depart- 

 ment, together with that of Alausl, the jurisdiction 

 of Lojn, and the government of Jean de Bracamoros; 

 the duties on provisions, and the customs collected 

 at Naranjal. 



The inhabitants here, though of the same clashes 

 with those of Quito, differ something in their genius 

 and manners; particularly in a most shameful indo- 

 lence, which seems so natural to them, that they have 

 a strange aversion to all kinds of work ; the vulgar 

 are also rude, vindictive, and, in short, wicked in 

 every sense. From this general reproach, the women 

 must, however, be excepted, being remarkable for 

 an uncommon spirit of industry; as if they were de- 

 termined 



