34 AVOYAGETO Book VII. 



are plaiftered over with clay, and white wafhed, but 

 the fronts painted in imitation of free-ftone. They 

 afterwards add cornices and porticos which are alfo 

 painted of a (lone colour. Thus the whole front im- 

 pofes on the fight, and ftrangers fuppofe them to be 

 built of thofe materials which they only imitate. The 

 roofs are flat, and covered only fo far as is neceffary 

 to keep out the wind and intercept the rays of the 

 fun. The pieces of timber, of which the roofs are 

 formed, and which on the infide are decorated with 

 elegant mouldings and other ornaments, are covered 

 with clay to preferve them from the fun. This flen- 

 der covering is fufficient, as no violent rains are ever 

 known here. Thus the houfes are in lefs danger than 

 if built of more compad materials y for the whole 

 building yields to the motions of the earthquakes, and 

 the foundations which are eonneded with the feveral 

 parts of the building follow the fame motion ^ and 

 by that means arc not fo eafily thrown down. 



The wild canes, which ferve for the inner parts 

 of the walls, refemble in length and bignefs, thofe 

 known in Europe, but without any cavity. The wood 

 of them is very folid, and little fubjed to rot. The 

 chaglla is alfo a kind of Ihrub growing wild in the 

 forefts and on the banks of rivers, ft is ftrong and 

 flexible like the ofier. Thefe are the materials of 

 which the houfes in all the towns of VaMes mentioned 

 in the preceding chapter, are built. 



Towards the eaft and wefl: parts of the city, but 

 within the walls, are a great many fruit and kitchen 

 gardens ; and moft of the principal houfes have gar- 

 dens for entertainments, being continually refrefbed 

 with water by means of the canals. 



The whole city is divided into^ the five following 

 parifhes. i. Sagrario, which has three priefts. 2. St. 

 Ann, and 3. St. Sebaftian, each having two priefl:s. 

 4. St. Marcelo, and 5. St. Lazaro, each of which has 

 one prieft only. The parifl:i of the latter extends it-; 



felf 



