I70 A VOYAGE TO Book IV. 



Hat or acaracolada or fpiral may be underftood ; it 

 inay not be improper to remark, that it is the laft 

 fpecies, and accordingly the cotton tinged with this 

 juice is called Caracoiillo. This department alfo 

 abounds in fruits, cattle of all kinds, wax, and fifh ; 

 fo that the inhabitants have very profitable motives 

 for induftry ; accordingly it is very populous, and 

 though it does not abound in towns, the number of 

 inhabitants far exceeds that of the preceding govern- 

 naent, and the harbour of Punta is much frequented 

 by vefiels, that is, by fuch as trade between Panama 

 and the ports of Peru, in order to purchafe different 

 kinds of provifions, as calves, kids, fowl, and oih&p 

 kinds, of which there is here a great plenty. Veflels 

 belonging to the merchants of Guayaquil of two 

 hundred tuns, load here with fait ; a trade, which 

 from the cheapnefs of that commodity turns to a 

 very good account. 



The next lieutenancy fouthward is Puna, an ifland 

 in the mouth of Guayaquil river. It extends N. E, 

 and S. W. between fix and feven leagues, and is of a 

 quadrilateral figure. According to an ancient tradi- 

 tion, its inhabitants were once betv^^een twelve and 

 fourteen thoufand; but, at prefent, it has only one 

 fmall town, fituated at the head of its harbour in the 

 north-eaft part ; and the few inhabitants confill chief- 

 ly of Calls, and fome Spaniards, but very few In- 

 dians. To this lieutenancy has been annexed the 

 town of Machala, on the coaft of Tumbez, together 

 with that of Naranjal, the landing-place of the river 

 of the fame name, called alfo the Suya near which 

 is a road leading to the jurifdidions pf Cuenca and 

 Alaufi. But neither of thefe towns is in a more 

 flouriihing condition than that on the ifland. In the 

 latter refide both the lieutenant and priefl, to whom 

 the others are fiibjed, both in civil and ecclefiaflicai 

 affairs ; Puna not only being the principal towq, 

 but great Ihips, by r-eafon of the depth of its harbour. 



