324 A VOYAGE TO Book VL 



There is also a di iteren ce both in the blossom and 

 seed. The Indians, in order to take oif the cassarilla 

 or cortex, cut down the tree; after which they bark 

 it, and dry the quinquina. There are here large and 

 thick forests of this tree; but notwithstanding this, 

 there is a very sensible diminution of them, occa- 

 sioned by the Indians not sowing the seed^ those 

 which grow spontaneously noi being by any means 

 equal to those which have been cut down. 



In the jurisdiction of Cuenca have also been dis- 

 covered many woody parts, in which this valuable 

 tree is found: and when I was in that country,, a 

 priest atCuen9a procured a large quantity of cascarilla, 

 and sent it to Panama, the only place from whence it 

 is exported. This instance, together with his as- 

 surances that it was of the same kind wiih that of 

 Loja, induced several of the inhabitants of Cuenca to 

 attempt the discovery, and were soon co.nvinced that 

 the jurisdiction contained Large forests of this tree, 

 which had been neglected by them, whilst their neigh- 

 bours reaped no small advantages from it. 



The jurisdiction of Loja has also a very great ad- 

 vantage from breeding the cochineal, and which intel- 

 ligent persons reckon of equal goodness with that of 

 Oaxaca in New Spain; but the inhabitants are so far 

 from applying themselvestothebrceding oí that insect, 

 sufficietit to supply the demands of a particul-ar trade, 

 that they breed no more than what they imagine will 

 be sufficient for the dyers in that and the neighbouring 

 jurisdiction of Cuenca. To this elegant and lasting 

 colour it is probably owing that the bays of Cuen(ja, 

 and the carpets of Loja, are preferred to all others*, 

 though the beauty of the colours may in some mieasurc 

 proceed from the superior skill of the workmen of 

 Loja and Cuenca, over those of Quito and other 

 parts of the provmee where the same goods are manu- 

 factured, ihc cochineal is also bred in the depart-, 

 ment of Hambato, though without any constant ga- 



th Clings 



