Ch. ri. SOUTH AMERICA. 32.1 



cessive melancholy ; and being informed that it was 

 owing to an unhappy change of circumstances, from 

 a plentiful fortune to the most extreme poverty, the 

 devil, with a cheerful air, told him, that he would 

 show him a spoc from whence he might have what 

 quantity of gold he pleased, the mine being absolutely 

 inexhaustible. The Spaniard cmbrr.ced the offer with 

 the greatest trans{)ort of joy j and, concluding that it 

 would at least prove a journey of some days, pur- 

 chased, with the penurious remains of his substance, a 

 few loaves, which he packed n¡) in his wallet ; and, 

 his mind being something easier from these flattering 

 promises, laid himself down to rest till the time ap- 

 pointed, when he was to call upon his guide. Bat 

 when he awaked, he found himself in a country ab- 

 solutely unknown, the plain of Chequipata lying be- 

 fore him, and himself reclined on the eminence of 

 Supay-urco. His astonishment, at viewing such mul- 

 titudes of strange objects, can be much better con- 

 ceived than expressed. For soir.e time indeed he 

 doubted whether they were real or illusive, till tired 

 with uncertainties, and dcteriTiined to know in what 

 country he was, he directed his way to a house of 

 some figure, which he saw at a distance. This hap- 

 pened fortunately to belong to a Spaniard, who was 

 a native of the same province of Estramadura; and 

 being informed by his servants that a stranger of the 

 same country was at the gate, the master, pleasing 

 himself with the hopes of hearing some news i>om 

 his native land, ordered him to be brought in, received 

 him" with great marks of friendship, and, being at 

 breakfast, made him sit down with him, and began to 

 enter on the pleasing inquiry after his tViends and re- 

 lations; but his guest taking out one of his loaves, 

 which the gentleman knew was baked in Spain, and 

 finding it quite nevv% was so lost in astonishment, that 

 he forgot both his breakfast and relations, insisting 

 (though afraid to hear^ that his apuarcnt ccuntrydian 

 Vol. I. ' y *" should 



