A V O Y AG E T O 



Book VII. 



obferve the latitude, which we did on the ninth with 

 a quadrant, and found it to be 3^ 13' 16'' fouth. 



Near Tumbez, is a river of the fame name, which 

 difcharges itfelf into the bay of Guayaquil, almoft 

 oppofite to the ifland of St. Clare. Barks, boats, 

 balzas, and canoos may go up and down this river, 

 being three fathom deep, and twenty-five broad ; 

 but it is dangerous going up it in the winter feafon, 

 the impetuofity of its current being then increafed by 

 torrents from the mountains. At a little diftance 

 from the cordillera, on one fide of the banks of the 

 river, fiands the town of Tumbez in a very fandy 

 plain, interfperfed with fome fmall eminences. The 

 town confitts only of feventy houfes, built of cane, 

 and thatched, fcattered up and down without any 

 order or fynimetry. In thele houfes are about one hun- 

 dred and fifty families of Meftizos, Indians, Mulat- 

 toe?, and a few Spaniards. There are befides thefe 

 other families living along the banks of the river, 

 who having the conveniency of watering their grounds, 

 continually employ themfeives in rural occupations. 



The heat is exceflive nor have they here any 

 rain for feveral years fucceflively *, but when it begins 

 to fall, it continues during the winter. The whole 

 country from the town of Tumbez, to Lima, con- 

 tained between the foot of the Cordillera and the fea, 

 is known by. the name of Valles, which we mention 

 here, as it will often occur in the remaining parts of 

 this narrative, 



Tumbez was the place where in 'the year 1526, the 

 Spaniards firft landed in thefe parts of South 

 America, under the comrnand of Don Francifco 

 Pizarro and where he entered into feveral friendly 

 conferences with the princes of the country, but 

 vaiTals to the Yncas. If the Indians were furprized 

 at the -fight of the Spaniards, the latter were equally 

 fo at the prodigious riches w^iich they every where 

 ftw, and the iargenefs of the palaces, cafUes, and 



temples % 



