ULLOa's voyage to south AMERICA. ^6^ 



From thence on the i8th we reached Tambo de Ynca, and after travelling twelve 

 leagues from the town of Chancay, we had at length the pleafure of entering the city 

 of Lima. 



From the diftances carefully fet down during the whole courfe of the journey, it 

 appears that from Tumbez to Piura is fixty-two leagues, from Piura to Truxillo eighty- 

 nine, and from Truxillo to Lima one hundred and thirteen ; in all two hundred and 

 fixty-four leagues. The greateft part of this long journey is generally performed by 

 night ; for the whole country being one continued fand, the refledion of the fun*s 

 rays is fo violent, that the mules would be overcome by the heat ; befides the want of 

 water, herbage, and the Hke. Accordingly the road all along, is rather diftinguifhed 

 by the bones of the mules which have funk under their burdens, than by any track 

 or path. For "hotwithflanding they are continually pafTmg and re-pafling throughout 

 the whole year, the winds quickly eiface all the prints of their feet. This country is alfo 

 fo bare, that when a fmall herb or fpring happens to be difcovered, it is a fure fign 

 of being in the neighbourhood of houfes. For thefe ftand near rivers, the moifture of 

 which fertilizes thefe arid wafles, fo that they produce that verdure not to be feen in 

 the uninhabited parts : as they are fuch merely from, their being deftitute of water ; 

 without which no creature can fubfift, nor any lands be improved. 



In the towns we met with plenty of all neceflary provifions ; as flefh, fowl, bread, 

 fruits, and wine ; all extremely good, and at a reafonable price ; but the traveller is 

 obliged to drefs his meat himfelf, if he has not fervants of his own to do it for him ; 

 for in the greateft parts of the towns he will not meet with any one incHnable to do 

 Lim that piece of fervice, except in the larger cities where the mafters of inns furnilh 

 the table. In the little towns, the inns, or rather lodging-houfes, afford nothing but 

 fhelter ; fo that travellers are not only put to the inconvenience of carrying water, 

 wood and provifions, from one town to another, but alfo all kinds of kitchen utenfils. 

 Befides tame fowl, pigeons, peacocks and geefe, which are to be purchafed in the 

 meaneft towns, all cultivated parts of this country abound in turtle-doves, which live 

 entirely on maize and the feeds of trees, and multiply exceedingly ; fo that Ihooting 

 them is the ufual diverfion of travellers while they continue in any town j but except 

 thefe, and fome fpecies of fmall birds, no others are to be had during the whole jour- 

 ney. On the other hand, no ravenous beafts, or venomous reptiles, are found here. 



The diftribution of waters by means of canals, which extend the benefit of the rivers 

 to diftant parts of the country, owes its origin to the royal care and attention of the 

 Yncas ; who, among other marks of their zeal for promoting the happinefs of their 

 fubjeds, taught them by this method, to procure from the earth, whatever was necef- 

 fary either for their fubfiftence, or pleafure. Among thefe rivers, many are entirely 

 dry or very low, when the waters ceafe to flow from the niountains ; but others, as 

 thofe of Santa Baranca, Guaura, and Paflamayo, continue to run with a full ftream 

 during the greateft drought. 



The ufual time when the water begins to increafe in thefe rivers is the beginning of 

 January or February, and continues till June, which is the winter among the moun- 

 tains ; and, on the contrary, the fummer in Valles ; in the former it rains, while in 

 the latter the fun darts a violent heat, and the fouth winds are fcarce felt. From June 

 the waters begin to decreafe, and in November or December the rivers are at their 

 loweft ebb, or quite dry ; and this is the winter feafon in Valles, and the fummer in 

 the mountains. So remarkable a difference is there in the temperature of the air, 

 though at fo fmall a diftance. 



CHAP. 



