'QUITO. 



of Bethleliem. Among the courts whole feflions are held 

 at Quito, the principal is that of the Royal Audience, 

 eftablifhed there in 1563; the exchequer or chamber of 

 finances, a treafury for the effedts of perfons deceafed, &c. 

 The corporation confilh of a corregidor, two ordinary al- 

 caldes chofen annually, and regidores. The cathedral 

 chapter confifts of the bilhop, dean, archdeacon, chanter, 

 treafurer, a doftoral, a penitentiary, a magiilral, three 

 canons by prefentation, four prebends, and two demi-pre- 

 bends, with the following falaries; that of the bilhop 24,000 

 dollars, the dean 2500, the four fucceeding dignities 2000 

 each, the canons 1500 each, the prebends 600, and the 

 demi-prebends 420. This church was created into a cathe- 

 dral in 1545, and among other feftivals celebrated in it, the 

 moft magnificent are thofe of Corpus Chriili, and the Con- 

 ception of our Lady, wlien all the courts, offices, and 

 perfons of ehiinence aflitt. In the former there is a fmgular 

 pomp of the rrocelTion of the holt, and here are alfo dances 

 of a peculiar nature* which were performed before their 

 converfion to Chriftianity. The corporation and cathedral 

 chapter keep, by vow, two annual feitivals in honour of 

 two images of the Virgin, which are placed in the viUages 

 of Guapulo and Quincha, belonging to this jurifdiftion. 

 Thefe images or ftatues are brought with great folemnity to 

 Quito, and each feftival is fucceeded by nine days' devotion, 

 the audience and other courts afliftingon the occafion. Thefe 

 feftivals are held in commemoration of the affiftance vouch- 

 fafed by the holy Virgin, at the time of an earthquake and 

 terrible ejeftion from Pichincha, by which Latacunga, 

 Hambato, and a great part of Rjiobamba, were utterly dc- 

 ftroyed ; whereas by the fuppofed interpofition of the 

 Virgin, the city efcaped even the flighteft damage. 



The celebrated city of Quito is faid by Alcedo to contain 

 58,000 perfons, fome of whom are diitinguifhed by their 

 rank. Thefe are the defcendants either of the original 

 conquerors, or of other perfons who in fucceeding times 

 came over from Spain invefted with fome lucrative office, 

 and who have preferved the luftre, both of their defcent 

 and wealth, by intermarriages, without mixing with meaner 

 families though famous for their riches. The lower orders 

 of people confift of four clafles, Spaniards or whites, Mef- 

 tizos, Indians or natives, and Negroes, with their progeny. 

 The former, according to the ftatement of UUoa, compofe 

 about a fixth part of the population ; the Meftizos, or de- 

 fcendants of Spaniards and Indians, amount to about a 

 third part ; the Indians form about another third ; and the 

 others, who are about one-fixth, are the Calls. The Spaniards 

 are prevented by their pride from applying to any kind of 

 bufinefs, and therefore many of them are poor and wretched. 

 The Meftizos occupy themfelves in arts and trades, but 

 principally in thofe of the higheft repute, fuch as painting 

 and fculpture, in which they excel. Thefe men of talents, 

 however, are indolent and (lothful, fo that they loiter about 

 the ftreets during the whole day. The Indians, who are 

 generally fhoemakers, bricklayers, weavers, or engaged in 

 ■fimilar occupation, are not more induftrious. Perfons of 

 fortune among the Spaniards affe£l great magniticence in 

 their drefs, wearing the fineft gold and filver tifllies ; but 

 that of the middling and lower clafs is a black cloak, and 

 ynder it a long coat, reaching down to their knees, with a 

 clofe fleeve, open at the fides, without folds, and orna- 

 mented with rows of buttons. The Meftizos generally 

 wear blue cloth, manufaftured in this country. The dreis 

 of the Indians confifts only of white cotton drawers, made 

 either from the ftufFs of the country, or from others brought 

 from Europe, reaching down to the calf of the leg, and 

 edged with lace fuitable to the Huff. The ufe of a fliirt is 



fupplied by a black cotton frock, wove by the natives ; and 

 over this is a kind of ferge cloak, through which tlie head 

 paftes, and a hat made by the natives. The men, both 

 Cr jples and Spaniards, are well made, of a proper ilature, 

 and of a lively agreeable countenance. The Meftizos in 

 general are alio well made, often taller than the ordinary 

 (ize, very robuft, and have an agreeable air. The Indians, 

 both men and women, are generally low, but well propor- 

 tioned and very ftrong. The Indians have no beard, nor 

 have either males or females any indications of the age of 

 puberty. The youths wf family are inftrufted in philolephy 

 and divinity, and fome, with reludtance, proceed to the 

 ftudy of the civil law. The country is obferved to abound 

 more in women than men ; and it is obferved, that nature 

 begins to decay at the age of thirty in the male fex, efpe- 

 cially among thofe who have been tenderly brought up ; 

 whereas the females enjoy a more confirmed ftate of health 

 and vigour. This difference is afcribed partly to the climate 

 and partly to the food, but principally to early intemperance 

 and voluptuoufnefs, and alfo the want of proper employ- 

 ments. The liquors that are ufed here are rum and brandy, 

 in which they freely indulge, and alfo the infufion of the 

 Paraguay herb, wliich ferves for tea. The vices prevalent 

 here are idlenefs, drunkennefs, and gaming. The common 

 people and Indians are much addifted to theft, in which 

 they are very artful and dextrous. In Quito, and in all the 

 towns and villages of its province different dialefts are 

 fpoken, Spanilh being no lefs common than the Inga. 



Quito is fo happily iituated, that neither the heat nor cold 

 is troublefome ; though the extremes of both may be felt 

 in its neighbourhood. An equahty of temperature takes 

 place throughout the whole year, the difference between the 

 feafons being fcarcely perceptible. The winds are falu- 

 brious, and blow continually, but never with any violence. 

 The rain occafionally defcends in impetuous torrents. 

 Earthquakes are not uncommon, and when they occur very 

 violent; that of 1775 was very deftruftive. The great 

 earthquake on the 4th of February 1797, which chaaged 

 the face of the whole province, and in one inftant deftroyed 

 thirty-five or forty thoufand perfons, has fo altered the 

 temperature of the air, that the thermometer is now com- 

 monly 41° to 54°, and feldom rifes to 68° or 70° ; whereas 

 Bouguer obferved it conftantly at 66° or 68°. Since this 

 catailrophe earthquakes are continually recurring ; and fuch 

 fhocks, it is probable, that all the higher ground is one vafl 

 volcano. Von Humboldt adds, that what are called the 

 mountains of Cotopaxi and Pichincha-are but little fummits, 

 the craters of which form different conduits terminating in 

 the fame cavity. The eai"thquake of 1797 afforded a me- 

 lancholy proof of this ; for the ground then opened every 

 where, and vomited forth fulphur, water, &c. Notwith- 

 ftanding the dangers and horrors that furround them, the 

 people of Quito are gay, lively, and variable, and very much 

 addicted to pleafure, luxury, and amufement. Humboldt 

 informs us, that the volcanos of Quito ejeft pumice, bafalt, 

 and porphyry Icorified ; with enormous quantities of water 

 and liquid clay, which diffufe fertility eight or ten leagues 

 round. The fertility of this country is fuch, that, as we 

 are informed, a full defcription of it would appear incredible. 

 The equability of the chmate, aswellasthe fertility of the foil, 

 occafion a regular fucceflion of the produflions of the earth : 

 when the fruits have obtained their maturity, and the leaves 

 begin to change their colour, frefh leaves, bloffoms, and fruits, 

 are feen in their proper gradations on the fame tree. The 

 fame inceffant fertihty is confpicuous in the corn, reaping 

 and fowing being both carried on at the fame time. This 

 remarkable fecundity of the foil is natvirally produftive of 



excellent 



