A VOYAGETO Book VL 



B O O K VI. 



Defcription of the Province of Quito. 



* ! * ' 1' ' I' ' "'1'"*^ *^ ^ ' I *' ' I ' * ! ' ' I* 't* * | * ""f* 



C H A P. 1. 



Extent of the Province of Quito, and the Junf- 

 di^ion of its Audience, 



N the five preceding books we have endeavoured, 

 as far as the nature of the fubjed: would permit, to 

 follow the order which the feries of our voyage 

 required ; and we flatter ourfelves it will appear, that, 

 though our principal attention v/as directed to the 

 aftronomical obfervations, we have not omitted any 

 interefting particular, relating to the towns and pro- 

 vinces through which we palfed. We were always 

 perfuaded, that if the former tended to the improve- 

 ment of fcience, and was agreeable to thofe who pro- 

 fefs it ; the latter might prove ufefui to hiftorians, 

 and be acceptable to thofe who apply themfelves to 

 the ftudy of the conftitution, (late, cuftoms, and ge- 

 nius of nations. We clofed the fifth book with an 

 account of the city of Qiiito ; this we fball employ in 

 treating of the province, which is equally an object of 

 curiofiry ; and we are enabled to gratify the reader in 

 the moft fatisfadtory manner, having, in the courfe of 

 our obfervations, not only furveyed its w^hole extent, 

 but, by our long ftay, obtained the acquaintance of 

 many perfons of undoubted judgement and veracity, 

 on whom we could rely for particulars^ not to be 



known 



