Chap. IV. 



AMERICA. 



441 



Sect. II. 



Quito. 



THc firft Province of feru towards the North is Quito, or the new Kingdom situational 

 of Granada, with which on that fide it is bounded, having on the Weft, oi^T 

 Mare del Zur ; on the South, Lima ; and on the Eaft, Los Quixos. It lieth 

 in a manner right under the Line, and is faid to be feventy two Leagues in length, 

 and in fome places about twenty five in breadth. 



The Winter begins here in Otlober, and continues till March, in which fall mighty 

 Showers, and on the Mountains abundance of Snow, but all the Summer long the 

 Sun is feldom darkned with a Cloud. Many of the Inhabitants die of a Giddinefs 

 in the Head about the beginning and end of Summer. The TO X alfo deftroys 

 many of the Natives 5 with which Difeafe they are often born, and give it to the 

 Spaniards, who are not able to abftain from the Indian Women 5 they ufe Saffapa- 

 rilla and the Wood Guaiacum to cure themfelves with. 



Here grow alfo many poyfonous Herbs, which the (Peruvians make ufe of to 

 poyfon one another. 



In the fartheft parts of Quito grows the fait and cooling Fruit Quaba, two Hand- I^ ruit 

 fuls long, covered with a grey Rind, and within full of white Pulp and hard 

 Kernels. 



The Tree Guaiaba hath a pale fmooth Bark, thick Boughs, hard and glittering ^Ji" 

 Leaves, Flowers confiding of five Leaves, not unlike a Peacock's Plume, long Ap- 

 ples, woolly without, and within full of a pale red Pulp and eatable Stones ; the 

 Root, which fpreads it felf very much, is fweet, and when boyl'd cures the Bloody* 

 flux. This Tree grows in mod places, efpecially in low Grounds, the more bc- 

 caufe the Kernels which the Birds picking out let fall on the Ground, fpring up in 

 new Trees. 



The Spanifl? Fruits, as Peaches, Cittrons, Figs, Pomegranates, Pears, Quinces, 

 and Oranges, grow alfo here in great abundance, but when ripe are fubjeft to rot. 



Moreover, the Fields abound with Wheat, Barley, and J^tf^ ; the Paflures af- 

 ford plenty of Grafs for Oxen, Horfes and Sheep, which bring forth Lambs twice 

 in fourteen Moneths. 



The Ocean and Rivers ftore of Fifli $ the Stream (Barbara us'd formerly to pro- 

 duce Gold alfo. 



In moift Grounds the Inhabitants find abundance of Salt-petre, the beft that is 

 for the making of Gun*powder. 



For the Accommodation of Travellers, Inns call'd Tambos, are built near the The inns 



7 umbos. 



Highways, exa&ly five Leagues diftant one from another, where all forts of Pro- 

 visions arc fold at a fet Price. 



The Natives anciently went Cloth'd in a Frock without Sleeves, as wide on the The Nature 



* 'of the Peo- 



top as at the bottom, and pleited their long Hair. They are ftrong, wellproporti- P le * 

 on'd in Body, andfubtile enough to learn any Art, but treacherous, inconftant,and 

 inclin'd to Drunkennefs : They were very hard alfo to be brought to receive the 

 Ionian Religion, fo that moft of them would not fuffer themfelves to be Baptiz'd 

 till they lay a dying : They alfo drove a great Trade in Cotton, Wooll, and Cloth. 

 Between Tajlo and Quito are feveral Villages, and the famous High- way, by the 

 Ingas cut through the WilderneiTes and Mountains, the Wall of an old Caftle, and 

 the wonderful Stone-Bridge Lumicbaca, which Nature hath made over the fwift 



T t River 



