Ch.L south AMERICA. 31^ 



Jeague in length, north and fouth. And on the N. 

 fide of the river are feveral openings of the fame kind. 

 The horror of the fhock was greatly increafed by 

 terrible eruptions from Mount Carguairafo, from 

 whence a muddy torrent, formed of afhes, cinders, 

 and fnow melted by the flames from the aperture, 

 precipitated down the fides of the mountain, over- 

 flowing the fields, Iweeping away the cattle, and every 

 other objedl, by its violence. A track of this im- 

 petuous current is ftill to be feen on the S. fide of the 

 affiento. 



The iphi^bitants in their manners and cuftoms re- 

 femble thofe of Quito ; but with regard to families of 

 diftindlion, it is much inferior to Riobamba. Courage 

 is an innate quality of the natives, but blended 

 with fuch vices, that both their neighbours, and the 

 inhabitant qf the other parts of the province, will 

 have no concerns with them, except thofe abfolutely 

 ^lecefTary and, in all dealings with them, take care 

 p guard equally againft their deceit and violence. 



This jurifdidtion in feveral of its produ6ls and ma- 

 pufaflures excels all the refl: one of which is bread, 

 particularly that made at the affiento, which is famous 

 all over the province; and accordingly it is fent to 

 Quito, and other parts, without loling any thing of 

 its goodnefs by length of time. The Indian inhabi- 

 pntjs of thp village of Qiiero make all forts of ca- 

 binet w^ork, for which there is a great demand all over 

 ^he province, as, befides the goodnefs of the workman- 

 fhip, this is the only place where goods of this kind 

 lare made. The jurifdid:ion of Patate is equally fa- 

 jrious for the plenty of fugar canes, and the good- 

 pefs of the fugar made from them, being of the fineft 

 fort. That of Santa Rofa de Pilaguin, which, with 

 its fields, lies on the fide of Carguairafo, is famous for 

 the particular goodnefs of its barley, as the ciiitndt 

 bordering on the affiento is for the exquifitenefs of its 

 fruits and to this diflrii^ Quito owes moft of the £u- 



. • . ropeaa 



