Ch. I. S O U T H A M E R I C A. 207 



which we reached at one in the afternoon, after pafling 

 feveral torrents, breaches, or chafms of the mountain 

 Carguairafo, another mountain covered with fnow, a 

 little north of Chimborazo. Among thefe chafms is 

 one without water, the earth remaining dry to the 

 depth of twelve feet. This chafm was caufed by a 

 violent earthquake, which lhall be fpoken of in its 

 place. 



On the 25th, the thermometer at Hambato, at half 

 an hour after five in the morning, ftood at 1010, and 

 on the 26th, at fix in the morning, at 100^ |. I'his 

 day, having pafled the river of Hombato, and after- 

 wards that of St. Miguel, by help of a wooden bridge, 

 we arrived at Latacunga. 



On the 27th, at fix in the morning, the thermome- 

 ter was at 1007, when leaving Latacunga we reached 

 in the evening the town of Mula-Halo, having in the 

 way forded a river called Alaques. 



On the 28th, the liquor of the thermometer was at 

 the fame height as at Latacunga, and we proceeded on 

 our journey, arriving in the evening at the manfion- 

 houfe or villa called Chi Shinche. The firft part of 

 this day's journey was over a large plain, at the end of 

 which we had the pleafure of paffing by a flruflure 

 that belonged to the Pagan Indians, being a palace of 

 the Yncas. It is called Callo, and gave name to the 

 plain. We afterwards came to an acclivity, at the 

 top of which, we entered on the plain of Tiopullo, 

 not lefs in extent than the firft ; and at the be tcom, 

 towards the north, is the houfe where we were enter- 

 tained that night. 



On the 29th, the thermometer at fix in the morn- 

 ing vv^as at 1003I. We fet out the earlier, as this 

 was to be our laft journey. A road croffing feveral 

 breaches and beaten tracks, brought us to a fpacious 

 plain called Tura-Bamba, that is, a muddy plain ; at 

 the other extrem.ity of whi^h (lands the city of Quito, 

 where we arrived at five in the evening. The pre- 



fident 



