po A V O Y A G E t O Book Vl, 



we fhall explain in its proper place. Here are alfo 

 large nunribers of goats, but not many fbeep ; and 

 though the manufadures here are not fo numerous 

 as in Otabalo, yet the Indians weave a confiderable 

 quantity of cloth and cotton. 



In the neighbourhood of the village of Salinas are 

 fait mines, which, befides the home confumption, fup- 

 ply the countries to the northward of it. This fait has 

 fome mixture of nitre ; and though it may thence be 

 cpncluded to be lefs wholefome, yet it is attended with 

 no ill confequence to thofe who are accuftomed to it: 

 but not anfwering the intention in falting, that from 

 Guayaquil is ufed inftead of it. 



Within the diftri£l of the village of Mira, are 

 great numbers of vrlld affes, which increafe very faft, 

 and are not eafily caught. The owners of the grounds 

 where they are bred, fuffer all perfons to take as ma- 

 ny as they can, on paying a fmall acknowledgment in 

 proportion to the number of days their fport has lalt- 

 ed. The manner of catching them is as follows : a 

 number of perfons go on horfeback, and are attend- 

 ed by Indians on foot. When arrived at the proper 

 places, they form a circle, in order to drive them into 

 fome valley ; where, at full fpeed, they throw the 

 noofe, and halter them : for thefe creatures, on find- 

 ing thenifelves inclofed, make very furious efforts to 

 efcape, and if only one forces his way through, they 

 all follow with an irreiiflible impetuofity. But when 

 the hunters have nooied them, they throw them down, 

 and fecure them with fetters, and thus leave them till 

 the hunting is over ; when, in order to bring them 

 away with the greater facility, they pair them with 

 tame beafts but this is not eafily performed, for 

 thefe aiTes are fo remarkably fierce, that they often 

 hurt the perfons who undertake to manage them* 

 They have all the fwiftnefs of horfes, and neither ac- 

 clivities nor precipices retard them in their career; 

 when attacked, defend themfelves with their heels 



