476 DLLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 



following account. An inhabitant of the province of Eftramadura in Spain, from tlfie 

 extremity of his diftrefs, abandoned himfelf to defpair ; and, in the phrenzy of his 

 wild imagination, fometimes implored the afliftance of Satan, and fometimes curfed 

 the moment that gave birth to his wretched being, and was for laying violent hands 

 tipon himfelf. The devil, taking advantage of his condition, appeared to him, but in 

 a drefs which fufficiently concealed his nature, and courteoufly aiked the caufe of his 

 exceffive melancholy ; and, being informed that it was owing to an unhappy change of 

 circumftances, from a plentiful rortune to the moft extreme poverty, the devil, with 

 a cheerful air, told him, that he would fhow him a fpot from whence he might have 

 what quantity of gold he pleafed, the mine being abfolutely inexhauftible. The Spa- 

 niard embraced the offer with the greatefl tranfport of joy ; and concluding that it 

 would at leaft prove a journey of fome days, purchafed, with the penurious remains of 

 his fubftance, a few loaves, which he packed up in his wallet ; and, his mind being 

 fomething eafier from thefe flattering promifes, laid himfelf down to reft till the time 

 appointed, when he was to call upon his guide. But M'hen he awaked, he found him- 

 felf in a country abfolutely unknown, the plain of Chiquipata lying before him, and 

 himfelf reclined on the eminence, of Supay-urco. His aftonifhment, at viewing fuch 

 multitudes of ftrange objeds, can be much better conceived than expreffed. For 

 fome time indeed he doubted whether they were real or illufive, till tired with uncer- 

 tainties, and, determined to know in what country he was, he directed his way to a 

 houfe of fome figure, which he faw at a diftance. This happened fortunately to belong 

 to a Spaniard, who was a native of the fame province of Eftramadura ; and being in- 

 formed by his fervants that a ftranger of the fame country was at the gate, the mafter, 

 pleafing himfelf with the hopes of hearing fome news from his native land, ordered 

 him to be brought in, received him with great marks of friendftiip, and, being at brcak- 

 faft, made him fit down with him, and began to enter on the pleafing inquiry after his 

 fnends and relations ; but his gueft taking out one of his loaves, which the gentleman 

 knew was baked in Spain, and finding it quite new, was fo loft in aftoniftiment, that 

 he forgot both his breakfaft and relations, infifting (though afraid to hear) that his 

 apparent countryman fhould inform him how it was poflible to make fo long a voyage 

 in fo fhort a time. The other readily fatisfying his defire, they both agreed that this 

 muft have been an adlion of that enemy to mankind, who had brought the poor Spa- 

 niard thither to enrich himfelf from the treafures concealed in the bowels of the hill on 

 which he had laid him ; and, ever fince, it has been called Supay-urco, or the DeviPs 

 Hill. This ftory is well known throughout all the jurifdidion of Cuenca, even the 

 children are acquainted with it ; and father Manuel Rodriguez, in his *' Hiftoria del 

 Maranon, y Amazonas, lib. ii. cap. 4." mentions it. From all which, it may be in- 

 ferred, that it is, in reality, of as ancient a date as the inhabitants of Cuenca pretend '^ 

 that it has defcended through a long feries of time without alteration ; and from this 

 ftory, though deftitute of proof, the notion that this hill contains an inexhauftible 

 treafure had its rife. 



IX. The laft jurifdidion of the province of Quito, on this fide, is that of Loja, the 

 capital of which is called by the fame name, and was founded in the year 1 546, by 

 Captain Alonfo de Mercadillo. It refembles, in extent, form, and buildings, the city 

 of Cuenca ; but the temperature of the air is confiderably hotter. In its diftrid are 

 the following fourteen villages : 



I. Saraguro and Ona. IV. Yuluc. 



II. San Juan del Valle» V. Guachanana. 



III. Zaruma, VI. Gonzanama* 



VII. Cariumanga^ 



