Ch. III. SOUTH AMERICA. 341 



so is it rich, and abounds in the products of the earth, 

 the soil being fertile, and the country every where in- 

 terspersed \tith farms. That of EI Raposo is on 

 the same happy footing as the two first. That of 

 Pasto is also large, but less wealthy. Barbacoas is very 

 small ; and in such a general want of provisions, that, 

 except a few roots and grains peculiar to hot and 

 moist climates, it is supplied with every thing from 

 other provinces. 



The temperature of this government is entirely the 

 same as that already spoken of in the other parts of the 

 province of Quito; that is, it varies according to the 

 situation of places; some being more cold than hot, 

 others the reverse ; and some, throughout the whole 

 year, enjoy a continual spring, as particularly Popa- 

 yan the capital. The like may be said of che soil, 

 which exuberantly produces the grains and fruits 

 proper to its situation : and the farms breed great 

 numbers of horned cattle and sheep, for the consump- 

 tion of the towns and country people : and in the ter- 

 ritory of Pasto grasiery is a very profitable article, 

 large herds and flocks being driven to Quito, where 

 they always find a good market. The jurisdiction of 

 Popayan is more subject to tempests of thunder and 

 lightning, and earthquakes, than even Quito ; though 

 in the latter, as we have observed, they are so very 

 frequent. No longer ago than 1735, at one in the 

 afternoon on the second of February, the greatest part 

 of the town was ruined by one. This remarkable 

 frequency of tempests and earthquakes, in the country 

 of Popayan, may be conjectured to proceed from the 

 great number of mines, in which it exceeds all the 

 others within the province of Quito. 



But of all the parts in this jurisdiction Caloto is ac- 

 counted to be the most subject to tempests of thunder 

 and lightning; this has brought into vogue Caloto 

 bells, which not a few persons use, being firmly per- 

 suaded that they have a special virtue against light- 



Z 3 ning. 



