252 A V O Y A G E T O Book V, 



caufed by wiuds confined in its bowels, which cannot 

 fail of recalling to their minds the terrible deftrud:ion 

 formerly caufed by its erudations, when the whole 

 city and neighbouring country were often, as it were, 

 buried under a deluge of allies, and the light of the 

 fun totally intercepted, for three or four days fuccef- 

 fively, by impenetrable clouds of dull. In the cen- 

 ter of the plain of Inno-Quito is a place called Rumi- 

 bamba, i. e. a ftony plain, being full of large frag- 

 ments of rocks thrown thither by the ejedlions of the 

 mountain. We have already obferved, that the high- 

 eft part of Pichincha is covered with ice and fnow, 

 confiderable quantities of which are brought dov/n to 

 the city, and mixed with the liquors drunk by people 

 of fafhion. 



The principal fquare in Quito has four fides, in one 

 of which ftands the cathedral, and in the oppofite the 

 Epifcopal palace ; the third fide is taken up by the 

 town-houfe, and the fourth by the palace of the audi- 

 ence. It is very fpacious, and has in the center an 

 elegant fountain. It is indeed rather disfigured than 

 adorned by the palace of the audience w^hich, inftead 

 of being kept in repair conformable to the dignity of 

 government, the greateft part of it has been fuffered 

 to fall into ruins, and only a few halls and offices taken 

 any care of ; fo that even the outward wails conti- 

 nually threaten to demjolifh the parts now (landing. 

 The four ftreets terminating at the angles of the fquare 

 are ftraight, broad, and handfome ; but at the diftance 

 of three or four quadras Cor the diftance between every 

 two corners, or ftacks of building, and which here 

 confifts of about a hundred yards, miore or lefs ) de- 

 gin the troublefome declivities. This inequality de- 

 prives the inhabitants of the ufe of coaches, or any 

 other wheel-carriage. Perfons of rank, however, to 

 diftinguifh themfelves, are attended by a fervapt car- 

 rying a large umbrella : and ladies of the firft quality 

 are carried in fedans. Except the four ftreets above- 

 men- 



