254 A V O Y A G E T 0 Book V. 



tor of uncommon hardnefs, ufed by the ancient In- 

 dians for building houfes and walls of all kinds, fe- 

 veral remains being flill to be feen near the city, and 

 in many other parts of the kingdom, notwithflanding 

 the remarkable inclemency of the weather ; a fufficient 

 proof of its ftrength and duration. 



The city is divided into feven parifhes, the Segrario, 

 (Plate 11.) St. Sebaftian, St. Barbaria, St. Roque, St. 

 Mark, St. Prifca, and St. Biaize, The cathedral, be- 

 fides the richnefs of its furniture, is fplendidly adorned 

 with tapeftry hangings, and other coftly decorations ; 

 but in this refped: the other parilh churches are fo 

 ^lean, as to have fcarce neceftaries for performing 

 divine worfiiip. Some of them are without pavement, 

 and with every other mark of poverty. The chapel 

 del Sagrario is very large, wholly of ftone, and its 

 architeflure executed in an elegant tafte ; nor is the 

 difpofition of the infide inferior to the beauty of its 

 external appearance. 



The convent of Monks in Qiiito are thofe of the . 

 Augudines, Dominicans, and the Fathers of mercy j 

 which are the heads of provinces *, but befides thefe 

 there is another of Francifcan recollefts, another of 

 Dominicans, and another of the Fathers of mercy. In 

 this city is alfo a college of Jefuits : two colleges for 

 feculars ; one called St. Lewis, of which the Jefuits 

 have the diredlion ; and the other St. Ferdinand, and 

 is under the care of the Dominicans. In the firft are 

 twelve royal exhibitions for the fons of auditors and 

 other officers of the crown. It is alfo an univerfity 

 under the patronage of St. Gregory. That of the 

 fecond is a royal foundation, and dedicated to St. 

 Thomas the falaries of the profeffors are paid by 

 the crown. Some of the chairs in this college are 

 filled by graduates, as thofe appropriated to the canon 

 and civil law, and phyfic ; but the latter has been 

 long vacant for want of a profeffor, though the degrees 

 would be difpenfed with. The Francifcan convene 



