Ch. il. SOUTH AMERICA. %i 



About half a league to the northward of it, is a rivu- 

 let, from which are cut federal trenches, for water- 

 ing the grounds. Accordingly the lands arc equaiiy 

 fertile with thofe of Truxillo, and the lame may be 

 ,faid of the other fettlements farther up the river. 

 This place we left the fame day, travelling fome- 

 times along the fhore, fometimes at a league diftance 

 from it. 



On the 6th we halted in a defart place called Tam- 

 foo.de Chao, and afterwards came to the banks of the 

 river Santa ; which having palTed by means of the * 

 Chimbadores, we entered the town of the fam.e 

 name, w^hich lies at about a quarter of a leag-ue from 

 it, and 1 5 from Biru, The road being chiefly over 

 vaft fandy plains, intercepted between two hills. 



The river Santa, at the place where it is ufually 

 forded, is near aqoiarrerof a league. in breadth, form- 

 ing five principal flrearas^ which run during the 

 whole year with great rapidity. It is always forded, 

 and for this purpofe perfons make it their bufinefs to 

 attend with very high horfes, trained up to ftem the 

 current, which is always very ftrong. They are 

 called Chi nbadores ajnd muil have an exad knov/- 

 iedge of the fords, in order to guide the loaded m.ules 

 in their paffage, as otherv/ife the fording this river 

 would be fcarce practicable, the floods often fh it ting 

 the beds of the river-, (o that even the Chimbadores 

 themfelves are not always fafe : for the ford-: being 

 fuddenly changed in oi-ie of the llreams, they are 

 •carried out of their depth by the current, and irre- 

 trievably lofl. During the winter fealon., m the 

 mountains, it often fweils to fuch a height, as not to 

 be forded for feveral days, and the paildngers are ob- 

 liged to vvait the fall of the waters, elpecially if they 

 •have with tliem any goods for thofe who travel with- 

 out baggage may, by going fix or eight leagues above 

 the town, pais over it on balzas made of calabaPaes : 

 jho' even here not without danger, for if the balza 



C 3 happens 



