474 ulloa's voyage to south America. 



have one ilory, the owners, from a ridiculous affectation of grandeur, preferring ele- 

 gance to fecurity. The fuburbs, inhabited by the Indians, are, as ufual, mean and 

 regular. Several flreanis of water, by great labour, are brought from the above 

 rivers, and flow through the flreets ; fo that the city is plentifully fupplied ; and for its 

 admirable fituation, and the fertility of the foil, it might be rendered the paradifc, not 

 only of the province^ of Quito, but of all Peru ; few cities being capable to boaft of fo 

 many advantages as concentre here ; but, either from fupinenefs or ignorance, they are 

 far from being duly improved. One circumflance, which adds a fmgular beauty to 

 Jts fituation, is, that the mountains are not fo high as to intercept the view.of a beau- 

 tiful country ; but at a proper diflance they rife again to their ftupendous height, as is 

 feen in the mountain Azuay, which divides this jurifdidion from that of Alaufi. 



Cuenca contains three parifhes ; that of the great church confifts of Spaniards and 

 Meftizos ; the two others, which are called San Bias and San Sebaftian, are for the 

 Indians. Here are convents of Francifcans, Dominicans, Auguftines, and the Fathers 

 of Mercy; a college of Jefuits, and two nunneries, one of the Conception, and the 

 other of Santa Terefa. Here is alfo an hofpital, but through ill management now 

 almofl in ruins. 



The magiftracy is compofed of regidores and ordinary alcaldes, which, according to 

 the general cuftom, are chofen annually, and at their head is the corregidor. Here is 

 a chamber of finances, under the dire(5lion of an accomptant and treafurer. It was 

 formerly kept in the city of Sevilla del Oro, ajurifdiclion, and the capital of the de- 

 partment of Macas ; but on the lofs of the city of Logrono, the village of Cuambaya 

 and other places, it was removed to Loja, and fmce to Cuenca. The revenues paid 

 into it confifl of the tribute of the Indians of this department, together with that of 

 Alaufi, the jurifdiftion of Loja, and the government of Jean de Bracamoros ; the 

 duties on provifions, and the cufloms colleded at Naranjal. 



The inhabitants here, though of the fame claffes with thofe of Quito, differ fomething 

 in their genius and manners ; particularly in a mofl fhameful indolence, which feems 

 fo natural to them, that they have a flrange averfion to all kinds of work ; the vulgar 

 are alfo rude, vindidive, and, in fhort, wicked in every fenfe. From this general 

 reproach, the women mud, however, be excepted, being remarkable for an uncom- 

 mon fpirit of induftry ; as if they were determined to atone for the indolence of the 

 other fex. They fpin and weave bays, which, for their goodnefs, and efpecially the 

 brilliancy of the colours, are famous in every part of Peru. They alfo weave fome 

 tucuyos J and make bargains with the merchants or traders. They buy and fell ; and, 

 in fhort, manage entirely that little commerce by which their families are fupported ; 

 whilft their hufbands, brothers, and fathers, give themfelves up to iloth and idlenefs, 

 with all its infamous concomitants. The whole number of inhabitants of this city is 

 computed at twenty or thirty thoufand fouls ; and both thofe of the city and of the 

 jurifdiftion are commonly known by the general name of Morlacos. 



The pleafures arifmg from the fertility of the foil are increafed by the mildnefs of the 

 climate, the liquor of the thermometer fluctuating the whole year between 1013 and 

 1015 ; fo that the cold is very little felt, and the heat very fupportable. With regard 

 to rains, and tempefts of thunder and lightning, they are as common here as at Quito. 

 In calm weather, the fl^y is ferene, and the inhabitants healthy ; nor are malignant 

 fevers and pleurifies, though common to the whole province, fo often known as at 

 Quito. The country is finely interfperfed with farm-houfes and plantations of fugar 

 canes ; fome parts are cultivated for corn, and others applied to the feeding of flieep 

 and horned cattle, from the laft of which they make great quantities of cheefe, not 

 3 inferior 



