ULLOA S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 443 



proportions, the difpofition of the parts, the elegant tafte and execution of the work, 

 render it equal to mofl of the admired buildings in Europe. 



The principal houfes are large ; fome of them have fpacious and well-contrived apart- 

 ments, though none are above one ftory in height, which is feldom without a balcony 

 toward the flreet ; but their doors and windows, particularly thofe within, are very low 

 and narrow, following in thefe particulars the old cuftom of the Indians, who conftantly 

 built their houfes among breaches and inequalities, and were alfo careful to make the 

 doors very narrow. The Spaniards plead in defence of this cuftom, that the apartments 

 are freer from wind ; but be that as it may, I am inclined to think that this peculiarity 

 owed its origin to a blind imitation of the Indians. 



The materials made ufe of in building at Quito are adobes, or unburnt bricks, and 

 clay ; and to the making of the former the earth is fo well adapted, that they laft a long 

 time, provided they are defended from the rain. They are cemented or joined together 

 by a certain fubftance called fangagua, a fpecies of mortar of uncommon hardnefs, ufed 

 by the ancient Indians for building houfes and walls of all kinds, feveral remains being 

 ftill to be feen near the city, and in many other parts of the kingdom, notwithftanding the 

 remarkable inclemency of the weather ; a fufKcient proof of its ftrength and duration. 



The city is divided into feven parifhes, the Sagrario, St. Sebaftian, St. Barbaria, 

 St. Roque, St. Mark, St. Prifca, and St. Blaize. The cathedral, befides the richnefs of 

 its furniture, is fplendidly adorned with tapeftry hangings and other coftly decorations ; 

 but in this refpeft the other parifh-churches are fo mean as to have fcarce necelfaries for 

 performing divine worfhip. Some of them are without pavement, and with every other 

 mark of poverty. The chapel del Sagrario is very large, wholly of ftone, and itsarchi- 

 teQure executed in an elegant tafte j nor is the difpofition of the infide inferior to the 

 beauty of its external appearance. 



The convents of monks in Quito are thofe of the Auguftines, Dominicans, and the 

 Fathers of Mercy, which are the heads of provinces ; but befides thefe, there is an- 

 other of Francifcan Recolle6ts, another of Dominicans, and another of the Fathers of 

 Mercy. In this city is alfo a college of Jefuits ; two colleges for feculars, one called 

 St. Lewis, of which the Jefuits have the diredion ; and the other St. Ferdinand, and is 

 under the care of the Dominicans. In the firft are twelve royal exhibitions for the fons 

 of auditors and other officers of the crown. It has alfo an univerfity under the patronage 

 of St. Gregory. That of the fecond is a royal foundation, and dedicated to St. Thomas ; 

 the falaries of the profeffors are paid by the crown. Some of the chairs in this college 

 are filled by graduates, as thofe appropriated to the canon and civil law, and phyfic ; 

 but the latter has been long vacant for want of a profeflbr, though the degrees would 

 be difpenfed with. The Francifcan convent has a college, called San Buena Ventura, 

 for the religious of its order ; and, though under the fame roof with the convent, has a 

 different government and economy. 



Quito has alfo feveral nunneries, as that of the Conception, the orders of St. Clare, 

 St. Catharine, and two of bare-footed Therefians. Of thefe one was originally founded 

 in the town of Latacunga ; but having, together with the place itfelf, been deftroyed by 

 an earthquake, the nuns removed to Quito, where they have ever fmce continued. 



The college of Jefuits, as well as all the convents of monks, are very large, well 

 built, and very fpl^idid. The churches alfo, though the architefture of fome is not 

 modern, are fpacious, and magnificently decorated, efpecially on folemn feftivals, when 

 it is amazing to behold the vaft quantities of wrought plate, rich hangings, and coftly 

 ornaments, which heighten the folemnity of worfliip, and increafe the reputation of thefe 

 churches fcrin;ignifjcence» If thofe of the nunneries do not, on thofe occafions, exhibit 



3 I, 2 fuch 



