IILL0A*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. ^6% 



binary fhould happen. Thefe igneous phsenomena are fo far from being uncommon 

 all over Valles, that they are feen at all times of the night, and fome of them remark- 

 ably large, luminous, and continuing a confiderable t\me. 



This town and its neighbourhood are terribly infefled with mofchltos. There are 

 indeed fome parts of the year when their numbers decreafe, and fometimes, tjiough 

 very feldom, none are to be feen : but they generally continue during the whole year. 

 The country from Piura upwards is free from this troublefome infeft, except fome 

 particular towns, fituated near rivers ; but they fvvarm no where In fuch intolerable 

 numbers as at Santa. 



Leaving this town on the 8th, we proceeded to Guaca-Tambo, a plantation fo called, 

 eight leagues diftant from Santa ; and contiguous to it is the Tambo, an inn built by the 

 Yncas for the ufe of travellers. It has a Ihed for the convenience of paflengers, and 

 a rivulet running near it. 



On the 9th, we came to another plantation known by the name of Manchan, within 

 a league of which we paifed through a village called Caima la Baxa, having a church, 

 with not more than ten or twelve houfes. Half way betwixt this and Manchan is 

 another rivulet. The latter plantation is about eight leagues diftant from the former. 

 From Manchan on the loth, we travelled over thofe ftony hills called the Culebras, 

 extremely troublefome, particularly to the litters, and on the following day, being the 

 nth, we entered Guarmey, fixteen leagues from Manchan ; and after travelling about 

 three leagues further we reached the Pafcana, or refting place, eredted inftead of a 

 Tambo or inn, and called the Tambo de Culebras. The town of Guarmey is but 

 fmall and inconfiderable, confifting only of forty houfes, and thefe no better than the 

 preceding. They are inhabited by about feventy families, few of which are Spaniards. 

 Its latitude is 10'' 3' 53" fouth. The corregidor has obtained leave to refide here conti- 

 nually, probably to be free from the intolerable plague of the mofchitos at Santa, 

 where formerly was his refidence. 



On the 13th we proceeded from hence to a place called Callejones, travelling over 

 thirteen leagues of very bad road, being either fandy plains, or craggy eminences. 

 Among the latter is one, not a little dangerous, called Salto del Frayle, or the Friar's 

 leap. It is ail entire rock, very high, and towards the fea almoft perpendicular. 

 There is however no other way, though the precipice cannot be viewed without horror j 

 and even the mules themfelves feem afraid of it by the great caution with which they 

 take their fteps. On the following day we reached Guamanmayo, a hamlet at fome 

 diftance from the river Barranca, and belonging to the town of Pativirca, about eight 

 leagues from the Callejones. This town is the laft in the jurifdidion of Santa or 

 Guarmey. 



Patavirca confifts only of fifty or fixty houfes, and a proportional number of inhabi- 

 tants : among whom are fome Spanilh families, but very few Indians. Near the fea 

 coaft, which is about three quarters of a league from Guamanmayo, are ftill remaining 

 fome huge walls of unburnt bricks ; being the ruins of an antient Indian ftrudure ; 

 and its magnitude confirms the tradition of the natives, that it was one of the palaces 

 of the antient caciques, or princes ; and doubtlefs its fituation is excellently adapted 

 to that purpofe, having on one fide a moft fertile and delightful country, and on the 

 other, the refrefhing profped of the fea. 



On the 15th we proceeded to the banks of the river Barranca, about a quarter of 

 a league diftant. We eafily forded it, under the diredlion of Chimbadores. It viras 

 now very low, and divided into three branches, but being full of ftones is always dan- 

 gerous. About a league further is the town of Barranca, where the jurifdi£Uon of 



4 c 2 Guaura 



