554 ulloa's voyage to south America. ^ 



On the 30th of Odober we reached tlje Bodegas, or warehoufes, of Babayoho, where, 

 taking a canoe, we went down the river to Gayaquil ; and embarking on board a fmall 

 Ihip bound for Puna, we aiichored in that port November the 3d. At this place we 

 hired a large balza, which brought us through the gulph to Machala. For though the 

 ufual route is by the Salto de Tumbez, we were obJjged to alter our courfe, the pilot 

 not being well acquainted with the entrance of a creek, through which you pafs to the 

 Salta. 



On the 5th, in the morning, our balza landed us on the coaft of Machala, from 

 whence we travelled by land to the town, the diftance being about two fhort leagues. 

 The next day we fent away our baggage in a large canoe to the Salto de Tumbez ; go- 

 ing myfelf in the fame canoe, being difabled by a fall the preceding day. Don George 

 Juan, with the fervants, followed on horfeback : the whole country being level, is 

 every where full of fait marfhes, and overflows at high-water, fo that the track is not 

 fufficient for two to go abreafl. 



The Salto, where I arrived on the 7th at night, is a place which ferves as a kind of 

 harbour for boats and fmall veflels. It is fituated at the head of fome creeks, particu- 

 larly that of the Jambeli, between fourteen and fixteen leagues from the coaft, but en- 

 tirely deftitute of inhabitants, no frefh water being found in any part of the adjacent 

 country ; fo that it only ferves for landing goods conligned to Tumbez, where they are 

 carried on mules, kept there for this purpofe ; and in this its whole trade confifts. The 

 Salto is uninhabited ; nor does it afford the leaft fhelter, all the goods brought thither 

 being depofited in a fmall fquare ; and, as rain is feldom or ever known here, there is 

 little danger of their receiving any damage before they are carried to Tumbez. 



Here, as along the fides of all the creeks, the mangrove-trees ftand very thick, with 

 their roots and branches fo interwoven as to be abfolutely impenetrable ; though the 

 fwarms of mufchitos are alone fufficient to difcourage any one from going among them. 

 The only defence againft thefe infeds is, to pitch a tent, till the beafts are loaded, and 

 you again move forward. The more inland parts, where the tides do not reach, are 

 covered with forefts of fmaller trees, and contain great quantities of deer ; but, at the 

 fame time, are infefted with tigers ; fo that, if the continual ftinging of the mufchitos 

 deprives travellers of their reft, it alfo prevents their being furprifed by the tigers, of 

 the fury of which there are many melancholy examples. 



On the 9th, in the morning, I arrived at the town of Tumbez, fituated feven leagues 

 from the Salto ; the whole country through which the road lies is entirely wafte, part 

 of it being overflowed by the tides, and the other part dead fands, which refled the 

 rays of the fun fo intenfely, as to render it neceflary, in general, to perform this jour- 

 ney in the night ; for travelling feven leagues thither, and as many back, without either 

 water or fodder, is much too laborious for the mules to undergo in the day-time. A 

 drove of mules, therefore, never fets out from Tumbez for the Salto, till an account 

 arrives, generally by one of the failors belonging to the veflel, of the goods being 

 landed, and every thing in readinefs ; as it would otherwife be loft labour, it being im- 

 pofTible that the mules fliould make any ftay there. 



Don George Juan had reached Tumbez on the 8th, and, though he did every thing 

 in his power to provide mules for continuing our journey, we wer6 obliged to wait there 

 fome time longer. Nor could we make any advantage of our ftay here, except to ob- 

 ferve the latitude, which we did on the ninth with a quadrant, and found it to be 

 3° 1 3' 1 d" fouth. 



Near Tumbez is a river of the fame name, which difcharges itfelf into the bay of 

 Guayaquil, almoft oppofite to the ifland of St. Clare. Barks, boats, balzas, and canoes, 



may 



