CHAP. XV. THE DEATH OF VERITY. 295 



During the remainder of the journey we travelled under the 

 auspices of a fresh interpreter-courier. Mr. Verity having left me, 

 I engaged in his place a Quitonian, a half-Indian, Francisco Javier 

 Campana by name, who had tendered his services on several 

 occasions. Verity, not long afterwards, was accidentally killed at 

 Eiobamba. Kobberies were frequently occurring there, and some 

 of the more decent inhabitants endeavoured to put them down by 

 patrolling the place at night. Two of these parties met at the 

 corner of a street, fired into each other, and Verity fell, mortally 

 wounded. 



Upon leaving Quito on June 7, it was understood that every- 

 thing would be subordinated to a second ascent of Chimborazo, 

 though if there was time and opportunity it was intended to 

 give some attention to* Illiniza, Altar, and Carihnairazo. A few 

 miles on the road, we came upon a small knot of people who had 

 assembled to bid our new interpreter farewell ; including his wife, 

 who cried, and screamed, and fell on his neck as if he were going 

 to execution. I am told that amongst the Indians a display 

 of grief upon the departure of a husband is quite the correct 

 thing, but am unaware whether his return usually produces a 

 corresponding amount of Joy. 



Ecuador is a matter of the greatest difficulty, owing to the fact that the Indians, 

 who form a great part of the population, refuse to give the necessary particulars." 



Quito, 50,000 ! Guayaquil, 45,000 ; Cuenca, 25,000 ; Riobamba, 12,000 ! Ambato, 

 10,000 ; Loja, 10,000 ; Latacunga, 10,000 ! Ibarra, 6000 ; Jipipapa, 5000 ; Otovalo, 

 5000; Porto-viejo, 5000 ; Guaranda, 4000; Tulcan, 3000. 



In this list, Cotocachi (a larger place than Otovalo) is not mentioned. The Priest 

 informed me in 1880 that there were 5000 Indians and 3000 whites in his parish. 

 As the above is an Official statement, I only express my surprise at the increase in 

 the population since 1880 by a few notes of admiration. 



