ULLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 39^ 



if they forbear, they muft endure hunger, till they have overcome their averlion to this 

 feafoning ; after which they think the Guinea pepper the fineft ingredient in the world 

 for giving a relifh to their food. 



The inhabitaYits of Guayaquil afFe6t greater fplendour in their formal entertainments ; 

 but the method of them is not very agreeable to an European gueft. The firft courfe 

 confifts of different kinds of fweetmeats, the fecond of high-feafoned ragouts ; and thus 

 they continue to ferve up an alternate fucceffion of fweet and high-feafoned difhes. The 

 common drink on thefe occafions is grape brandy, there called Aqua ardiente de Caf- 

 tilla, cordials and wine : of all which they drink freely during the entertainment, height- 

 ening the pleafure by the variety ; but the Europeans generally prefer wine. 



The cuftom of drinking punch has lately increafed conliderably in this city j and, 

 when drunk in moderation, is found to agree very well with the conftitutions of this 

 climate. Accordingly it has obtained greatly among perfons of diftinftion, who gene- 

 rally drink a glafs of it at eleven, and again in the evening ; thus allaying their thirft, 

 and at the fame time correcting the water, which, befides the difagreeable tafte com- 

 municated to it by heat, promotes an exceffive perfpiration : and this cuftom is fo pre- 

 vailing, that even the ladies punctually obferve it ; and the quantity both of acid and 

 fpirit being but fmall, it becomes equally wholefome and refrefhing. 



CHAP. VIII. — Extent ofjhe Jurifdi^ion of Guayaquil. 



THE moft northern part of the jurifdiftion of Guayaquil begins at Cape Paflado, fo 

 called from its lying 21' fouth of the equinodtial, and about half a degree north of the 

 bay of Manta. From this cape it continues all along the coaft, including the ifle of 

 Puna, to the town of Machala on the coaft of Tumbez, where it is terminated by the 

 jurifdidion of Piura. From thence it runs away eaftward, and is bounded by that of 

 Cuenca ; and then, turning northwards along the weftern Ikirts of the Andes, it termi- 

 nates on thofe of Bamba and Chimbo. Its length, from north to fouth, is about fixty 

 leagues, and its breadth, from eaft to weft, forty or forty-five ; reckoning from the 

 point of Santa Elena to the parts called Ojibar. Its whole country, like that in the 

 neighbourhood of the city, is one continued plain, and in winter univerfally overflow- 

 ed. It is divided into feven lieutenancies or departments, for each of which the corre- 

 gidor appoints a lieutenant or deputy, who, however, muft be confirmed by the audi- 

 ence of Quito. Thefe departments are, Puerto Viejo, Punta de Santa Elena, Puna, 

 Yaguache, Babahoyo, Baba, and Daule. 



The lieutenancy de San Gregorio de Puerto Viejo is bounded northward by the go- 

 vernment of Atacames, and fouth ward by the lieutenancy of Santa Elena. Its capital 

 of the fame name, though fmall, thinly peopled, and poor, enjoys the privileges of a 

 city, and includes the towns of Monte Chrilto, Picoafa, Charapoto, and Xipijapa. 

 Thefe have their particular priefts, who are likewife the fpiritual diredors of all the 

 fmaller villages in this diftrift. 



The town of Monte Chrifto ftood at firft in the bay of Manta, and was called by 

 that name. It had then a confiderable commerce by means of veffels paffing from Pa- 

 nama to the ports of Peru ; but, having been pillaged and deftroyed by fome foreign 

 adventurers, who infefted thofe feas, the inhabitants removed it to the foot of Monte 

 Chrifto, where it now ftands, and from whence it has its name. 



Some tobacco is planted in this jurifdiftion, but is not much efteemed ; and the 

 reft of its products, as wax, cotton, and pita, are barely fufficient to fupport its inha- 



9 ' bitants, 



