IJLLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 61,9 



IV. Diocefe of the Audience of Lima. — Arequipa. 



The city of Arequipa was founded in 1539 by order of Don Francifco Pizarro, in 

 a place known by the fame name : but this fituation being found very difadvantageous, 

 the inhabitants obtained permiffion to remove it to the valley of Quilca, where it at 

 prefent ftands, about twenty leagues diftant from the fea. The lands in its dependency 

 having been united to the empire of the Yncas by Malta Capac, the goodnefs of the foil 

 and the purity of the air, induced that monarch, for the farther improvement of the 

 country, to draw three thoufand families from fuch adjacent provinces as were lefs 

 fertile, and with thefe to people four or five towns. 



This city is one of the largeft in all Peru, delightfully fituated in a plain, and the 

 houfes well built of ftone, and vaulted. They are not all of an equal height, though 

 generally lofty, but commodious, finely decorated on the outfide, and neatly furnifhed 

 within. The temperature of the air is remarkably good : and though fometimes a 

 fmall froft is feen, the cold is never exceflive, nor the heat troublefome ; fo that the 

 fields are always cloathed with verdure and enamelled with flowers, as in a perpetual 

 fpring. The inhabitants enjoy an exemption from many difeafes common to other 

 countries, partly owing to their care in keeping the ftreets clean by means of canals 

 which extend to a river running near the city ; and by thefe all the filth of the city 

 is fwcpt away. 



But thefe pleafures and advantages are allayed by the dreadful fliocks of earthquakes, 

 to which, in common with all thofe parts of America, it is fo fubjed, that it has 

 been four times by thefe convulfions of nature laid in ruins ; befides other fmall fhocks 

 not attended with fuch terrible confequences. The firfl of thofe was felt in 1582, the 

 fecond on the 24th of February 1 600, which was accompanied with an eruption of a 

 volcano called Guayna-Patina, in the neighbourhood of the city : the third happened in 

 1604, and the laft in 1725. And though the defolation attending the three laft was 

 not fo univerfal, yet the public buildings, and the moft {lately houfes, were laid 

 in ruins. 



The city is very populous, and among its inhabitants many noble families, this being 

 the place where moft of the Spaniards fettled, on account of the goodnefs of the air, 

 and the fertility of the foil ; as alfo for the conveniency of commerce at the port of 

 Aranta, which is only twenty leagues diftant. The civil, political, and military govern- 

 ment of the city is executed by a corregidor, who is placed at the head of the regidores, 

 from which are annually chofen two ordinary alcaldes. 



The city of Arequipa did belong to the diocefe of Cufco, till the year 1609, when 

 it was erefted into a particular bifliopric on the 20th of July. The chapter, befides 

 the bifhop, confifts of the five ufual dignitaries, namely, the dean, archdeacon, chanter, 

 redtor, and treafurer : three canons and two prebends. Befides the facrifty, which is 

 ferved by two priefts for the Spaniards, the parilh of Santa Martha is appropriated to 

 all the Indian inhabitants. Here are two Francifcan convents, one of obfervants, and 

 the other of recollefts, both belonging to the province of Cufco ; alfo one of Domi- 

 nicans, and another of Auguftines, depending on Lima ; and a monaftery of the 

 fathers of Mercy, fubordinate to that of Cufco. Under their refpedive fraternities 

 of Lima here is alfo a college of Jefuits, and a convent and hofpital of St. Juan de Dios. 

 Here is a feminary for the fervice of the cathedral ; and two nunneries ; namely, one 

 of the Carmelites, and the other of St. Catharine. A third is now building for the 

 jorder of Santa Rofa. There is alfo at Arequipa an office of revenue, under the 



4 K 2 direftion 



