558 ULLOA's voyage to S0*TH AMERICA. 



The original fituation of this town was contiguous to the fea, at a fmall diftance 

 from a point called Aguja ; but being deftroyed by an inundation, it was thought 

 proper to build the prefent town of Sechura about a league diftance from the coaft, 

 near a river of the fame name, and which is fubjeft to the fame aherations as that of 

 Piura ; for at the time we crofled it no water was to be feen ; whereas from the months 

 of February or March till Augufl or September, its water is fo deep, and the current 

 fo ftrong, as to be pafled only in balzas ; as we found in our fecond and third journey 

 to Lima. When the river is dry, the inhabitants make ufe of the above-mentioned 

 expedient of digging wells in its beds, where they indeed find water but very thick and 

 brackifh. Sechura contains about two hundred houfes of cane, and a large and hand- 

 fome brick church ; the inhabitants are all Indians, and confift of near four hundred 

 families, who are all employed either as drivers of the mules or filhermen. The houfes 

 of all thefe towns are quite fimple ; the walls confifting only of common canes and 

 reeds, fixed a little way in the ground, with flat roofs of the fame materials, rain being 

 hardly ever known here ; fo that they have fufficient light and air, both the rays of 

 the fun and wind eafily find a pafTage. The Indian inhabitants of this place ufe a dif- 

 ferent language from that common in the other towns both of Quito and Peru ; and 

 this is frequently the cafe in great part of Valles. Nor is it only their language which 

 diftinguifhes them, but even their accent ; for befides their enunciation, which is a 

 kind of melancholy finging, they contract half of their laft; words, as if they wanted 

 breath to pronounce them. 



The drefs of the Indian women in thefe parts, confifl:s only of an anaco, like that 

 of the women of Quito, except its being of fuch a length as to trail upon the ground. 

 It is alfo much larger, but without fleeves, nor is it tied round them with a girdle. In 

 walking they take it up a little, and hold it under their arms. Their head-drefs con- 

 fifts of cotton cloth laced or embroidered with different colours ; but the widows wear 

 black. The condition of every one may be known by their manner of drefTmg their 

 hair, maids and widows dividing it into two plaited locks, one hanging on each 

 ihoulder, whilft married women braid all their hair in one. They are very induf- 

 trious, and ufually employed in weaving napkins of cotton and the like. The men 

 drefs in the Spaniih manner ; and confequently wear fhoes ; but the women none. 

 They are naturally haughty, of very good under {landings, and differ in fome cuftoms 

 from thofe of Quito. They are a proof of what has been obferved (Book VI. Chap. VI.) 

 with regard to the great improvement they receive from a knowledge of the Spanifh lan- 

 guage ; and accordingly it is fpoken here as fluently as their own. They have genius, and 

 generally fucceed in whatever they apply themfelves to. They are neither fo fuper- 

 ftitious, nor fo excefllvely given to vice as the others ; fo that except in their colour and 

 other natural appearances, they may be faid to differ greatly from them ; and even in 

 their propenfity to intemperance, and other popular cuftoms of the Indians, a certain 

 moderation and love of order is confpicuous among thefe. But to avoid tedious repe- 

 titions, I fliall conclude with obferving, that all the Indians of Valles from Tumbez to 

 3L.ima are induftrious, intelligent, and civilized beyond what is generally imagined. 



The town of Sechura is the laft in the jurifdidion of Piura, and its inhabitants not 

 only refufe to furnifti paffengers with mules, but alfo will not fuffer any perfon of 

 whatever rank, to continue his journey, without producing the corregidor's paffport. 

 The intention of this ftridnefs is to fupprefs all abufes in trade ; for there being befides 

 this road which leads to the defart, only one other called the Rodeo ; one of them 

 muft be taken ; if that of the defart, mules muft be hired at Sechura for carrying 

 ^ater for the ufe of the loaded mules when they have performed half their journey. 



10 This 



