Ch. IV. SOUTH AMERICA. 353 



stands; and this situation proved its ruin on the 30th 

 of Nov. 1744, when, by the explosion of the Vol- 

 cano, or Cotopaxi, of which a more particular ac- 

 count shall be given in another place, this river be- 

 came so swelled by the torrents of melted snow and 

 ice, that it entirely bore down the town ofNapo, and 

 the houses were carried along by the impetuosity of 

 the current. 



The city of Avila, but very much below that title, 

 stands oh 00 degr. 44 min. S. lat. and near 2 degr, 

 20 min. E. of Quito. It is so much less than the 

 former, that its inhabitants scarce amount to 300 of 

 both sexes. Its houses are built of the same materials. 

 It has also a priest, whose ecclesiastical jurisdiction 

 comprehends six towns, some of them in largeness and 

 number of inhabitants not inferior to the city. These 

 are, 



I. La Conception. IV. Motte. / 



II. Loreto. V. Cota Pini. 



III. San Salvador. VI. Santa Rosa. 



The foregoing towns constitute the chief part of 

 th'S goverruiient; hut it also includes the towns of the 

 mission of Sncumbios, the chief of which is San Mi- 

 guel. At the beginning of this century they were 

 ten, but are now reduced to these five : 



I. San Diego de los Palmares. 

 II. San Francisco de los Curiquaxes. 



III. San Joseph de los Abuccees. 



IV. San Christoval de los Yaguages. 



V. San Pedro de Alcantara de la Cocao, or Nariguera. 



The inhabitants of the two cities, and the villages 

 in the dependencies, and those of Baeza, are obliged 

 to be constantly upon their guard against the infidel 

 Indians, who frequently commit depredations among 

 their houses and plantations. They compose different 



Vol. I. ^ A a and 



