ITINERART FROM CHAVIN TO CHICOPLAYA. 



mines In the vicinity. Here a road may be opened without difficuky to the town 

 of Xacas, belonging to the jurisdiction of Chavin. The Indians being sensible 

 that such an enterprise is of extreme importance to the provinces of Guamaliesj 

 have made a voluntary offer to the chief magistrate, Don Juan de Bezares, to cut 

 the road in question, on the simple condition of being supplied with provisions and 

 the necessary working tools. Their proposition has been accepted ; and in a little 

 time the operations will be begun*. From the river Aucantagua, the traveller has 

 to proceed a league to the town of Caunarapa, where the same fertility is discerni- 

 ble in various plantations of coca and other useful produftions. Two leagues 

 further lies the town of Monzon, situated on the bank of the river of the same 

 name : it formerly boasted a numerous population, which is now reduced to six 

 tributary Indians, with their famihes, and a few mestizos. In the vicinity of 

 this town, there are several metallic veins, some of which are worked. Having 

 passed a short league beyond Monzon, the traveller arrives at the plain of Pucara, 

 by which is implied the plain of blood, in allusion to a battle said to have been 

 fought there between the Spaniards and barbarians. The ruins of the town for- 

 merly inhabited by the latter, are to be seen on the bank of the above river, 

 which flows to the right in its descent. Somewhat higher than the plain of Pucara, 

 lies the great quebrada, or marshy ground, of Insuro : it is so wide and extensive, 

 that it may be named a valley. It formerly contained several towns, the ruins of 

 which are still to be seen, the principal ones having been Insuro, Paucaco, and 

 Ascension. Don Juan de Bezares, aware of the facility with wiiich a road might 

 be opened from this site to the town of Patairrhondos, and to the city of Hua- 

 nuco, drew up a plan, which he presented to the viceroy, pointing out all the bene- 

 fits that would result from such an undertaking. Delays having arisen from a 

 reference to the sub-delegate of the province, the impatience of the above public- 

 spirited individual has led him to commence this very useful enterprise. Three 

 leagues beyond Pucara, without quitting the bank of the river, the traveller arrives 

 at the ruins of the town of Pampeteco, from which the valley took its name, and 

 in which the Jesuits had their last conversion. Here it is that Bezares introduced 

 the breed of black cattlef, which cannot fail to thrive on grounds abounding in 

 such excellent pastures, and so well cleared. He is now employed in augmenting 

 the population of the first settlement of Chicoplaya, distant one league from tiie 

 above site. 



* This itinerary bears the date of 1791. 



I Referred to under the head of Topography, p. 345, 



3 p We 



