Ch. III. SOUTH AMERICA. 349 



expectation ; and thus the so much desired commu- 

 nication of the province of Quito and the kingdom 

 ofTerra Firma remained as it was till the year 1735, 

 when Don Pedro Vicente Maldonado, being invested 

 with the same powers as his predecessors, surpassed 

 them in execution ; and in 1741 laid open a direct 

 communication betwixt Quito and the Rio dc las 

 Esmaraldasi and having verified his proceeding before ^ 

 the audiences, and obtained their approbation, here- 

 turned to Spain, to solicit the confirmation of his em- 

 ployment as governor, and the rewards specified in 

 the contract. On the favourable report of the su- 

 preme council of the Indies, his majesty, in 1746, 

 confirmed him as governor of that country, which, 

 in 1747, was formally erected into a government, 

 by the commission then given to the above gentle- 

 man, who by his skill and resolution had so well de- 

 served it. 



The towns within the government of Atacames 

 are at present but small and poor, having hitherto 

 lain out of the way of traffic, and the country but 

 little cultivated. However, this governor takes such 

 measures for the improvement of it, that already the 

 face of things begins to alter greatly for the better; 

 and the fertility of the soil will naturally invite set- 

 tlers, and the communication being opened through it 

 betwixt the kingdom of Terra Firma and the pro- 

 vince of Quito, will cause a circulation of money, la 

 the mean time this government contains 20 towns, 

 five of v^ihich are on the sea-coast, and stand the first 

 in the following list : the others are inland places. 



I. Tumáco, VI. Lachas. 



ir. Tola. VIL Cayapas. 



III. SanMatheodeEsme- VIII. Inta. 



raídas. IX. Gualéa. 



IV. Atacámes. X. Nanegál. 

 V. La Canoa. XI. Tambillo. 



XII. Ni. 



