320 A VOYAGE TO Book VÍ. 



of these dreadful convulsions of nature are still visible 

 in several chasms among the mountains, many being 

 two or three feet broad, a convincing proof of the 

 violent concussions in the bowels of the earth at the 

 time of that catastrophe. The temperature of the air 

 is here something colder than at Cuenca ; but not in a 

 decree sufficient to lessen the exuberant fertility of the 

 soil. 



Among the great variety of mines in the jurisdiction 

 of Cuen9a, and which I shall consider more at large 

 in the sequel, those of gold and silver, according to 

 the common opinion, are not the least numerous. Re- 

 port has indeed magnified them to such adegree, that, 

 to prove the astonishing quantity of those metals, the 

 inhabitants relate the following story, the truth of 

 which I do not pretend to warrant. It exhibits in- 

 deed an instance so contrary to the common order 

 of things, as tobe scarce reconcileable to reason. I 

 shall, however, venture to relate it, because, if the 

 reader should think it incredible, it will at least serve 

 to convey an idea of the riches supposed to be con- 

 cealed in the bowels of the mountains. 



Between the valleys of Chugui-pata, which ex- 

 tend from the village and jurisdiction of Los Azogues 

 southward, and that of Poute running eastward along 

 thebanksofthesame-name,are several eminences which 

 divide the two plains, andamongthesc onehigherthan 

 the rest called Supay-urco, a name said to have been 

 given it on the following account. An inhabitant of 

 the province of Estramadura in Spain, from the ex- 

 tremity of his distress, abandoned himself to despair; 

 and, in the frenzy pf his wild imagination, sometimes 

 implored the assistance of Satan, and sometimescursed 

 the moment that gave birth to his wretched being, 

 and v^as for laying violent hands upon himself. The 

 devil taking advantage of his condition appeared to 

 him, but in a dress which sufficiently concealed his 

 nature, and courteously asked the cause of his ex- 

 cessive 



