2f A VOYAGE TO Book VII. 



the traveller is obliged to drefs his meat himfelf, if 

 he has not fervants of his own to do it for him for 

 in the greateft parts of the towns he will not meet 

 with any one, inclinable to do him that piece of fer- 

 vice, except in the larger cities where the mailers of 

 inns furnidi the table. In the little towns, the inns, or 

 rather lodging houfes, afford nothing but frxiter ; 

 fo that travellers are not only put to the inconveni- 

 ence of carrying water, wood and provifions from 

 one town to another, but alio all kinds of kitchen 

 utenfils. Befides tame fowl, pigeons, peacocks and 

 geefe, which are to be purchafed in the meaneft 

 towns, all cultivated parts of this country abound in 

 turtle doves, which live intirely on maize and the 

 feeds of trees, and multiply exceedingly fo that 

 Ihooting them, is the ufual diverfion of travellers 

 while they continue in any tovv'n but except thefe, 

 and fome fpecies of fmall birds, no others are to 

 be had during the whole journey. On the other 

 hand, no ravenous beafts, or venomous reptiles are 

 found here. 



The dlRribution of waters by means of canals, 

 which extend the benefit of the rivers to diilant parts 

 of the country, owes its origin to the royal care and 

 attention of the Yncas •, who among other marks of 

 their zeal for promoting the happinefs of their fub- 

 jsds, taught them by this method, to procure from 

 the earth, whatever was neceffary either for their fub- 

 fillance, or pleafure. Among thefe rivers, many 

 are entirely dry or very low, v^^hen the waters ceafe 

 to flow from the mountains but others, as thofe of 

 Santa Baranca, Guaura, PaiTamayo, and others, con- 

 tinue to run with a full ilream during the greateft 

 drought. 



The ufual time when the water begins to increafe 

 in thefe rivers is the beginning of January or Fe- 

 bruary, and continues till June, which is the winter 

 among the mountains 5 and, on the contrary, the 



Summer 



