53<^ 



ULLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 



only for men, the mules fwim over the rivers ; in order to which, when their loading 

 is taken off, they are drove into the water near half a league above the bridge, that 

 they may reach the oppofite fhore near it, the rapidity of the flream carrying them fo 

 great a diftance. In the mean time, the Indians carry over the loading on their Ihoul- 

 ders. On fome rivers of Peru there are bejuco bridges fo large, that droves of loaded 

 mules pafs over them ; particularly the river Apurimac, which is the thoroughfare of 

 all the commerce carried on between Lima, Cufco, La Plata, and other parts to the 

 fouthward. 



Some rivers, inftead of a bejuco bridge, are palTed by means of a tarabita ; as is the 

 cafe with regard to that of Alchipichi. This machine ferves not only to carry over 

 perfons and loads, but alfo the bealls themfelves ; the rapidity of the dream, and the 

 monftrous (tones continually rolling along it, rendering it impracticable for them to 

 fwim over. 



The tarabita is only a fingle rope made of bejuco, or throngs of an ox's hide, and 

 confiding of feveral Itrands, and about fix or eight inches in thicknefs. This rope is 

 extended from one fide of the river to the other, faftened on each bank to llronsr 

 pofts. On one fide is a kind of wheel, or winch, to flraighten or flacken the tarabita 

 to the degree required. From the tarabita hangs a kind of leathern hammock capa- 

 ble of holding a man ; and is fufpended by a clue at each end. A rope is alfo faftened 

 to either clue, and extended to each fide of the river, for drawing the hammock to the 

 fide intended. A pufh at its firft fetting off fends it quickly to the other fide. 



For carrying over the mules, two tarabitas are necelTary, one for each fide of the 

 river, and the ropes are much thicker and Hacker. On this rope is only one clue, 

 which is of wood, and by which the beaft is fufpended, being fecured with girts round 

 the belly, neck, and legs. When this is performed, the creature is fhoved off, and 

 immediately landed on the oppofite fide. Such as are accuftomed to be carried over 

 in this manner, never make the leaft motion, and even come of themfelves to have 

 the girts faftened round them ; but it is with great difficulty they are firft brought to 

 fuffer the girts to be put round their bodies, and when they find themfelves fufpended, 

 kick and fling, during their fhort paffage, in a moft terrible manner. The river of 

 Alchipichi may well excite terror in a young traveller, being between thirty and forty 

 fathoms from fhore to fhore ; and its perpendicular height, above the furface of the 

 water, twenty-five fathoms. 



The roads of this country are fuitable to the bridges ; for though there are large 

 plains between Quito and the river Bamba, and the greateft part of the road between 

 the river Bamba and Alaufi, and even to the north of that city, lies along the moun- 

 tains, yet thefe are interrupted by fruitful breaches, the acclivities and declivities of 

 which are not only of a great length and very troublefome, but alfo dangerous. In 

 fome places there is a necefiity for travelling along traQs on the declivities of moun- 

 tains, which are fometiriies fo narrow as hardly to allow room for the feet of the beaft ; 

 part of its body, and that of the rider, being perpendicular over a torrent fifty or fixty 

 fathoms beneath the road. So that certainly nothing but abfolute neceffity, there 

 being no other road, and long cuftom, can get the better of that horror which muft 

 aifeft the perfon at the fight of fuch imminent danger ; and there are too many 

 inftances of travellers lofing their effedls, if not lives, their whole dependance being 

 on the fure foot of the mule. This danger is indeed, in fome meafure, compenfated 

 by the fecurity of the roads ; fo that we fee here what none of the civilized nations 

 can boaft of, namely, fingle perfons travelling, unarmed, with a great charge of gold and 

 filver, but equally fafe as if ftrongly guarded. If the traveller happens to be fatigued ,., 



in 



