ULLOA S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 



5S7 



months, one refiding at the port of Paita, and the other in this place : at the former 

 for receiving the duties on imports for goods landed there, and alfo for preventing a 

 contraband trade ; and at the latter for receiving the revenues and merchandizes on 

 goods configned from the mountains to Loja, or going from Tumbez to Lima. 



This city contains near fifteen hundred inhabitants ; and among thefe fome families 

 of rank, befides other Spaniards, Meflizos, Indians, and Mulattoes. The climate is 

 hot and very dry, rains being feldomer known here than at Tumbez : notwithftanding 

 which it is very healthy. It has a river of great advantage to the inhabitants as well 

 as the adjacent country, the foil of which is fandy, and therefore eafier penetrated by 

 the water ; and being level, the water is conveyed to diiferent parts by canals. But in 

 the fummer the rive/ is abfolutely deftitute of water, the little which defcends from 

 the mountains being abforbed before it reaches the city ; fo that the inhabitants have no 

 other method of procuring water, but by digging wells in the bed of the river, the 

 depth of which mull be proportioned to the length of time the drought has continued. 



Piura has an hofpital under the care of the Bethlemites ; and though patients af- 

 flicted with all kinds of diftempers are admitted, it is particularly famous for the cure 

 of the French difeafe, which is not a little forwarded by the nature of the climate. 

 Accordingly there is here a great refort of perfons infected with that infamous dif- 

 temper ; and are reflored to their former health by a lefs quantity of a fpecific than is 

 ufed in other countries, and alfo with greater eafe and expedition. 



As the whole territory of this jurifdiction within Valles produces only the algarroba, 

 maize, cotton, grain, a few fruits and efculent vegetables, moft of the inhabitants 

 apply themfelves to the breeding of goats, great numbers of which are continually 

 fold for flaughter, and from their fat they make foap, for which they are fure of a good 

 market at Lima, Quito, and Panama ; their {kins are drefled into leather called Cor- 

 dovan, and for which there is alfo a great demand at the above cities. Another branch 

 of its commerce is the Cabuya, or Pita, a kind of plant from whence a very fine and 

 ftrong thread is made ; and which abounds in the mountainous parts of its jurifdi£lion. 

 Great advantages are alfo made from their mules ; as all the goods fent from Quito to 

 Lima, and alfo thofe coming from Spain, and landed at the port of Paita, cannot be 

 forwarded to the places they are configned to but by the mules of this province ; and 

 from the immenfe quantity of goods coming from all parts, fome idea may be formed 

 of the number of beads employed in this trade, which continues more or lefs through- 

 out the year, but is prodigious when the rivers are fhallow. 



Don George Juan being arrived at Piura, every thing was got ready with the utmoft 

 difpatch, and on the 21ft we continued our journey. The next day we reached the 

 town of Sechura, ten leagues diftant from Piura, according to the time we were 

 travelling it. The whole country between thefe two places is a level fandy defart. 



Though the badnefs and danger of the roads in Peru fcarce admit of any other 

 method of travelling than on mules, yet from Piura to Lima there is a conveniency of 

 going in litters. Thefe inftead of poles are fufpended on two large canes, like thofe of 

 Guayaquil, and are hung in fuch a manner as not to touch the water in fording rivers, 

 nor Itrike againfl the rocks in the afcents or defcents of difficult roads. 



As the mules hired at Piura perform the whole journey to Lima, without being relieved, 

 and in this great diftance, are many long defarts to be crofled, the natural fatigue of the 

 diftance, increafed by the fandinefs of the roads, render fome intervals of reft abfo- 

 lutely necelTary, efpecially at Sechura, becaufe on leaving that town we enter the great 

 defart of the fame name. We tarried here two days 5 during which we obferved the 

 latitude, and found it 5° 32' 33^" S. 



The 



