Ch. V. SOUTH AMERICA. 371 



is by Hambato and Pápate, at the foot of the moun- 

 tain of Tunguragua; and from thence the road lies 

 through the country of Canelos, watered by the rivef 

 Bobonaza, which joining the Pastaza, both discharge 

 theiDseives into the Maranon. The third lies through 

 Cuenqa, Loja, Valladolid, and Jaen, fromwhenceat 

 the village of Chuchunga, which is as it were its port, 

 this river becomes navigable; and here all embark 

 who are either going to Manas, or a longer voyage 

 on this river. Of the three, this alone is practicable 

 to beasts ; but the tediousness of the distance from 

 Quito renders it the least frequented ; for the mis- 

 sionaries, who take these journeys oftener than any 

 other set of men, in order to avoid itá circuit, and the 

 danger of the pass of Manzerichc, prefer the difficul- 

 ties and danorers to the others. 



In the long course of this river from Chnchunga, 

 are some parts where the banks, contracting them- 

 selves, form streightSj which, fro'u the rapidity of the 

 waters, are dangerous to pass. In others, by a sud- 

 den turn of its direction, the waters are violently car- 

 ried against the rocks; and in their repercussion, form 

 dangerous whirlpools, the apparent smoothness of 

 which is no less dangerous than the rapidity in the 

 streights. Among these, one of the most dangerous 

 is that betwixt Santiago dc las Montanas and Borja, 

 called Pongo de Manzerichc ; the first word of which 

 signifies a door or entrance, gnd by the Indians is ap- 

 plied to all narrow places ; the second is the name of 

 the adjacent country. 



The Spaniards who have passed this streight make 

 the breadth of it to be no more than twenty-five yards, 

 and its length three leagues j and that, without any 

 other help than merely the current of the water, they 

 were carried through it in a quarter of an hour. If 

 this be true, they must move at the rate of twelve 

 leagues an hour ; a most astonishing velocity ! But 

 M. de la Condamine, who examined it with par- 

 B b 2, ticular 



