SPANISH AMERICA. 533 



nary imaginable. This man, who happened to be on a fort which 

 overlooked the harbour, perceived, in one minute, the inhabitants 

 running from their houses in the utmost terror and confusion ; the 

 sea, as usual on such occasions, receding to a considerable distance, 

 returned in mountainous waves, foaming with the violence of the 

 agitation, buried the inhabitants for ever in its bosom, and imme- 

 diately all was silent ; but the same wave which destroyed the town 

 drove a little boat by the place where the man stood, into which he 

 threw himself, and was saved. Cusco, the ancient capital of the 

 Peruvian empire, has already been taken notice of. As it lies in the 

 mountainous country, and at a distance from the sea, it has been long 

 on the decline : but it is still a very considerable place, and contains 

 above 26,000 inhabitants, three parts Indians, and very industrious in 

 tnanufacturing baize, cotton, and leather. They have also, both here 

 and in Quito, a particular taste for painting ; and their productions in 

 this way, some of which have been admired in Italy, are dispersed all 

 over South America. Quito is next to Lima in populousness, if not 

 superior to it. It is, like Cusco, an inland city, and, having no mines 

 in its neighbourhood, is chiefly famous for its manufactures of cotton, 

 wool, and flax, which supply the consumption throughout Peru. 



Government. ...Peru is under the government of a viceroy, who 

 resides at Lima, and whose authority formerly extended over all the 

 three districts ; but that of Quito has since been detached from it. 

 The viceroy is as absolute as the king of Spain ; but as his territories 

 are so extensive, it is necessary that he should part with a share of 

 his authority to the several audiences or courts established over the 

 kingdom. There is a treasury court established at Lima, for receiv- 

 ing the fifth of the produce of the mines, and certain taxes paid by the 

 Indians, which belong to the king of Spain. 



History... .For the history of Pern, see the account of the dis- 

 covery and conquest of America. 



Vol, II- 



