Ch. V. SOU TH AMERIC A. . 127 



themfelves into feparate bodies, draw along from Cru- 

 ces large bales, or any brittle and delicate wares 

 the roads here, though the diftance is but Ihort by 

 crofiing the chain of mountains called the Cordilleras, 

 are in fome parts fo narrow, that a bead of burthen 

 can hardly pals along; and, conlequently, an im- 

 minent danger would attend the employing of mules 

 for this fervice. 



This city, even during the abfence of the armada, 

 is never without a great number of flrangers ^ it being 

 the thoroughfare for ail going to the ports of Peru, in 

 the South-lea, as alfo for any coming from thence to 

 Spain : to which muft be added, the continual trade 

 carried on by the Peruvian fhips, which bring variety 

 of goods, as meal of different forts, wines, brandy 

 from grapes, or brandy caftllla, as it is called by all 

 the Americans in thefe parts, fugar, tallow, leather, 

 olives, oil, and the like. The fhips from Guayaquil 

 bring cacao, and quinquina, or jefuits bark ; which 

 always meet with a quick exportation here, efpecially 

 in time of peace. All goods, particularly thofe of 

 Peru, are fubje6l to great alterations in their prices, fo 

 that on many occafions the owners lofe confiderably, 

 and fometimes their whole purchafe. And, on the 

 other hand, there are favourable opportunities, when 

 they triple it, according to the plenty or fcarcity of 

 the commodity. The different forts of meal are in 

 particular fubjedl to this accident ; they foon be^ 

 coming fo extremely vitiated by the great heat, that 

 there is an ablblute necelTity for throwing them over- 

 board. The wines and brandies alfo, from the heat 

 of the jarrs, contradl a pitchy tafte, and are foon un- 

 fit for ufe. The tallow melts, becomes full of map-- 

 gots, and turns into a kind of earth ; the fame may 

 be obferved of other goods. Hence, if the gain is 

 fometimes great, the rifk of the lofs is proportional. 



The coaft ing barks, which make frequent trips from 

 the adjacent ports, fupply the city with hogs, poultry, 



hung- 



