274 A VOYAGE TO Book V. 



a jargon compofed of both; an impropriety which 

 alfo gains ground among the Europeans, and even 

 perfons of rank, when once they begin to underftand 

 the language of the country. But, what is ftill more 

 inconvenient, they ufe improper v/ords; fo that a 

 Spaniard himfelf, not accuftomed to their diale6l, 

 has often need of an interpreter. 



The fumptuous manner of performing the laft 

 offices to the dead, mentioned in the defcription of 

 Carthagena, is frugal and fimple, if compared to that 

 ufed at Quito and all its jurifdidion. Their oftenta- 

 tion is fo enormous in this particular, that many fa- 

 milies of credit are ruined by a prepofterous emu- 

 lation of excelling others. The inhabitants may there- 

 fore be properly faid to toil, fcheme, and endure the 

 greateft labour and fatigue, merely to enable their 

 fuccefibrs to bury them in a pompous manner. The 

 deceafed muft have died in very mean circumftances 

 indeed, if all the religious communities, together with 

 the chapter of the cathedral, are not invited to his 

 funeral, and during the proceffion the bells tolled in 

 all the churches. After the body is committed to the 

 earth, the obfequies are performed in the fame ex- 

 penfive manner, befides the anniverfary which is fo- 

 lemnized at the end of the year. Another remark- 

 able inftance of their vanity is, never to bury in their 

 own parifh-church ; fo that any one feen to be buried 

 in that manner may be concluded to have been of 

 the loweft clafs, and to have died wretchedly poor. 

 The cuilom of making an offering, either at the ob- 

 fequies or anniverfary, is ftill obferved, and generally 

 confifts of wine, bread, beafts, or fowls, according to 

 the ability or inclination of the furvivor. 



Though Qiiito cannot be compared to the other 

 cities in thefe parts for riches, yet it is far removed 

 from poverty. It appears from feveral particulars to 

 have been in a much more flouriHiing ftate ; but at 

 prefent, though it has many fubftamial inhabitants. 



