TOPOGRAPHY OF ECUADOR. 



257 



neio-libouring cliffs. A few other southern towns — Celica, Catacocha, Cariamanga 

 — are also situated on the Pacific slope ; the headstreams of their valleys unite 

 to form the Rio Achira (Chira), which reaches the coast at Paita Bay, between the 

 Tumbez and Sechura deserts. 



But the better-peopled districts of this part of Ecuador lie on the Amazonian 

 slope. The chief towns and most fertile plains are situated in the upper basin of 

 the Paute (Santiago), whicb joins the Marafion just above the Pongo de Man- 

 seriche. Cuenca, metropolis of this district, occupies, with its suburb of Egido 



Fig. 101. — Lota Mottntains. 



Scale 1 : 1,000.000. 





. r*; 



79°40' West oF Greenv/ich 



79°<o- 





18 Miles. 



(8,830 feet), the fine plain of Bamba, where tbe running waters vanish in a rocky 

 cavern and reappear five miles lower down. 



The province of Azuay, whose capital is Cuenca, supplies a large part of the 

 republic with wheat and cattle, while its industrious inhabitants, of Cafiar origin, 

 prepare woven fabrics and straw hats. Despite the successive invasions of Incas 

 and Spaniards, their old culture has been but slightly modified. 



South-west of Cuenca are situated the much-frequented thermal springs of 

 Banos, but the mineral deposits of the district, formerly worked with profit, are 

 now for the most part abandoned. The town of Azor/aes (" Mercury ") no longer 

 collects the quicksilver occurring in the neighbouring sandstones ; the Indian 

 village of Macas, in the forest zone roamed by the Jivaros, has also ceased 

 18 



