Ch.IV. south AMERICA. 251 



ftands. It may perhaps appear ftrange, that, notwith- 

 ftanding two fuch beautiful and extenfive plains are fo 

 near the city, a fituation fo very inconvenient fhould be 

 preferred to either. But the firfl founders feem to 

 have had lefs regard for convenience and beauty, than 

 for prefcrving the remembrance of their conqueft, by 

 building on the fite of the ancient capital of the In- 

 dians, who made choice of fuch places for ereding 

 their towns ; probably from their being better adapted 

 to defence. Befides the Spaniards, during the infancy 

 of their conqueft, little imagined this place would ever 

 increafe to its prefent magnitude. Qinto, however, 

 was formerly in a much more flourifning condition 

 than at prefent; the number of its inhabitants being 

 confiderably decreafed, particularly the Indians, whole 

 greets of whofe huts are now forfaken, and in ruins. 



South-west from Quito, on the neck of land be- 

 longing to the plain of Turu-bamba, is an eminence 

 called Panecillo, or the Little Loaf, from its fio;ure 

 j-efembling a fugar-loaf. Its height is not above a 

 hundred toifes, and between it and the mountains co- 

 vering the eaft part of the city, is a very narrow road. 

 From the fouth and vv/eil fides of the Panecillo, ilTue 

 feveral ftreams of excellent water; and from the 

 (eminences of Pichincha feveral brooks flow down the 

 breaches, and by means of conduits and pipes plen- 

 tifully iupply the whole city with water ; whilft the re- 

 mainder, joining in one ftream, forms a river called 

 Machangara, which waihes the fouth parts of the 

 city, and is crolTed over by a ftone bridge. 



Pichincha, in the Pagan times, v;as a volcano, and 

 even fome fiery eruptions have been known fince the 

 conqueft. The mouth, or aperture, was in a pic nearly 

 of the fame height with chat on which we took our 

 jftation ; and the top of it is now covered with fand. 

 .;^nd calcined matter. At prefent no fire is ejcdled, 

 nor does there any fmoke ifilie from it. But fome- 

 yimes the inhabitants are alarmed by dreadful noifes, 



caufed 



