314 A V O Y A G E T O Book VL 



ropean kinds fold in that city, the temperature of the 

 air being peculiarly adapted to the perfedlion of thofc 

 fruits. 



VI. On the W. fide of the jurifdidion of Riobam- 

 ba, between it and Guayaquil, lies that of Chimbo, 

 whofe jurifdidion confifts of an affiento and feven 

 villages ; the former, being the capital, is called 

 Chimbo, and was the refidence of the corregidor, till 

 it was thought proper, for the conveniency of com- 

 merce, to remove it to Guaranda. This afliento does 

 not contain above eighty families ; fome of which 

 are Spaniards, but all poor. The names of the vil- 

 lages are, 



I. San -Lorenzo. V. Guaranda, 



II. Afaneoto. VI. Guanujo. 



III. Chapacoto. VII, Tomabelas. 



IV. San Miguel. 



The moft confiderable of their villages is that of 

 Guaranda, though the inhabitants are generally Mef- 

 tizos there are fome Indians, but very few Spaniards. 



The jurifdidlion of Chimbo, being the firft of the 

 Serrania, or ridge of mountains, bordering on that 

 of Guayaquil, carries on, by means of innumerable 

 droves of mules, the whole trade of Qiiito and the 

 other provinces, by the way of Guayaquil, carrying 

 the bales of cloth, and (tuffs, together with the meal, 

 corn, and other products of the country, from the 

 former to the latter ; and returning with wine, brandy, 

 fait, cotton, fifli, oil, and other goojds wanted in the 

 provinces of the mountains. This trafHck is of in- 

 conceivable benefit to the inhabitants; but it can 

 only be carried on during the fummer, the roads in 

 the winter being abfolutely impradicable to beafts of 

 any kind. This intermiffion of trade they call ' Cer- 

 rarfe la montana/ The fliutting up of the moun- 

 tains. 



5 The 



