an A VOYAGE TO fiooK V. 



on the principal part of our commifTion. Nor wiH 

 even this appear a fmall matter, if the great diftance 

 and diverfity of climates be confidered. A few of 

 the firft days after our arrival were fpent in making 

 proper returns for the civilities we had received from 

 all perfons of rank ; after which, we began to deli- 

 berate on the beft methods of performing our work ^ 

 and the rather^ as M. Bouguer and de la Condamine 

 were now arrived. The former reached Qiiito on 

 the loth of June, by the fame road of Guaranda; 

 and the latter on the 4th of the fame month, having 

 taken his route by the river of Emeralds, in the go- 

 vernment of Atacames. 



Our firft operation was, to meafure a piece of 

 ground, which was to be the bafe of the whole work 

 and this we finiflied during the remainder of the cur- 

 rent year. But it proved a very difficult and fatiguing 

 operation, from the heat of the fun, and the winds and 

 rains, which continually incommoded us. The plain 

 made choice of for this bafe is fituated 249 toifes 

 lower than Quito, and four leagues to the N. E.. of 

 that city. It is called the plain of Yaruqui, from a- 

 village of that name near it. This plain was parti- 

 cularly chofen, as the beil adapted to our operations ; 

 for though there are feveral others in this difbrict, 

 yet all of them lay at too great a diitance from the 

 diredtion of our bafe. The quality, difpoflpfion, and, 

 lower fituation, all contribute to render it lefs cold 

 than Quito. Eaftward it is defended by the lofty 

 Cordillera of Guamani and Pambamarca, and weft- 

 ward by that of Pinchincha. The foil is entirely 

 fand ; fo that, befides the heat naturally refulting 

 from the direct rays of the fun, it is increafed by the 

 rays being reverberated by the two Cordilleras: 

 hence it is alfo expofed to violent tempefts of thun- 

 der, lightning, and rain ; but, being quite open to- 

 . wards the north and fouth, fuch dreadful whirlwinds' 

 form here, that the whole interval is fiiled with co- 

 lumns 



