ULLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 475 



traffic is of inconceivable benefit to the inhabitants ; but it can only be carried on 

 during the fummer, the rSads in the winter being abfolutely imprafticable to beafts 

 of any kind. This intermiflion of trade they call ' Cerrarfe la Montana,' the (hutting 

 up of the mountains. 



The temperature of the air at Guaranda, and that of the greateft part of the jurif- 

 didion of Chimbo, from the proximity of Chimborazo, fo often mentioned for its 

 frigorific effeds, is very cold. The country is large and fertile, like thofe already 

 mentioned ; but the ha9iendas, or farms, are in general appropriated to the breeding 

 of mules ; a few only being fown with different fpecies of grain. 



VII. The jurifdidion of Guayaquil is the laft ; but this has been already treated of 

 at large. 



CHAP. II. — Sequel of the Account of the Jurlfdidions in the Province of Quito. 



VIII. THE jurifdidion bordering on the fouthern parts of Riobamba is that of 

 Cuenca, whofe capital is the city of the fame name, founded in the year 1557, by 

 Gil Ramirez Davalos. Its jurifdidion is divided into two departments, of which the 

 capital is one, and that of Alaufi the other ; the laft reaches to Riobamba, and is 

 governed by a deputy of the corregidor. Befides the affiento, it contains only the four 

 following villages : 



I. Chumche. III. Cibambe. 



II. Guafuntos. IV, Ticfan. 



But that of the city of Cuenca includes ten : 



I. Azogues. VI. Paccha. 



II. Atuncanar. VII. Gualafeo. 



III. Giron. ^ VIII. Paute. 



IV. Canary-bamba. IX. Delec. 



V. Efpiritu. X. Molleturo. 



The city of Cuenca lies in 2^ 53' 49" fouth latitude, and 29' 25'' weft of the meri- 

 dian of Quito. It ftands in a very fpacious plain, along which, at about half a league 

 to the northward of the city, runs a little river called Machangara ; and clofe to the. 

 fouth fide of the city runs another, known by the name of Matadero. Befides thefe, 

 at the diftance of a quarter of a league, runs another called Yanuncay ; and at about 

 the fame diftance is another termed Los Banos, from a village of that name, through 

 which it flows. All thefe rivers are at fome feafons fordable j but at others can only 

 be crofled with fafety over the bridges. 



The plain in which this city ftands reaches about fix leagues from north to fouth ; 

 and the four rivers, whofe courfes are nearly in the fame direction, form, at a fmall 

 diftance, by the conflux of their ftreams, a very large river. To the fouth of the 

 city is another plain of about two leagues in extent, and, with its great variety of regu* 

 lar plantations of trees, and other rural improvements, makes a very delightful appear- 

 ance all the year round. 



This city may be claflTed among thofe of the fourth order. Its ftreets are ftraight, 

 jind of a convenient breadth j the houfes of unburnt bricks, tiled, ajid many of them 



VOL. XIV. 3 p have 



