Ch.VI. south AMERICA. 277 



after twelve at noon at 10 14: on the firft of June at 

 fix in the morning at 1011 : and at noon at I0f2f, 

 But what renders this equality ftill more delightful is, 

 that it is conftant throughout the whole year, the dif- 

 ference betw^een the feafons being fcarce perceptible. 

 Thus the mornings are cool, the remainder of the 

 day warm, and the nights of an agreeable tempera- 

 ture. Hence the reafon is plain, why the inhabitants 

 of Quito make no difference in their drefs during the 

 whole year \ fome wearing filks or light ftufFs, at the 

 fame time others are dreffed in garments of fubftantial 

 cloth and the former as little incommoded by the 

 cold, as the latter are by heat. 



The winds are healthy, and blow continually, but 

 never with any violence. Their ufual fituations are 

 north and fouth, though they fometimes fliift to other 

 quarters, without any regard to the feafon of the year. 

 Their inceiTant permanence, notwithftanding their 

 conftant variations, preferves the country from any 

 violent or even difagreeable imprelTions of the rays of 

 the fun. So that, were it not for fome inconveniences 

 to which this country is fubje6t, jt might be confi- 

 dered as the mod happy fpot on the whole earth. 

 But when thefe difagreeable incidents are confidered, 

 all its beauties are buried in obfcurity ; for here are 

 dreadful and amazing tempefts of thunder and light- 

 ning, and the ftill more deftrudive fubterraneous 

 earthquakes, which often furprize the inhabitants in 

 the midft of fecurity. The whole morning, till one 

 or two in the afternoon, the weather is generally ex- 

 tremely delightful a bright fun, ferene and clear fky, 

 are commonly feen but afterwards the vapours be- 

 gin to rife, the whole atmofphere is covered with 

 black clouds, which bring on fuch dreadful tempefts 

 of thunder and lightning, that all the neighbouring 

 mountains tremble, and the city too often feels their 

 dreadful effects. Laftly, the clouds difcharge them- 

 felves in fuch impetuous torrents of rain, that in a very 



T 3 fliort 



