Ch.II. south AMERICA. 517 



beauty to its fituation, is, that the mountains are not 

 fo high, as to intercept the viev/ of a beautiful coun- 

 try ; but at a proper diftance they rife again to their 

 Itupendous height, as is feen in the mowntain Azuay, 

 which divides this jurifdidtion from that of Alaufi. 



CuENfA contains three parifhes that of the great 

 church confifts of Spaniards and Meftizos; the two 

 others, which are called San Bias and San Sebaftian, 

 are for the Indians. Here are convents of Francifcans, 

 Dominicans, Auguftins, and the Fathers of Mercy; 

 a college of Jefuits, and two nunneries, one of the 

 Conception, and the other of Santa Terefa. Here is 

 alfo an hofpital, but through ill management now al- 

 moft in ruins. 



The magiftracy is compofed of regidores and ordi- 

 nary alcaldes, which, according to the general cuftom, 

 are chofen annually, and at their head is the corregi- 

 dor. Here is a chamber of finances, under the di- 

 re(5tion of an accomptant and treafurer. It was for- 

 merly kept in the city of Sevilla del Oro, a jurif- 

 didlion, and the capital of the department of Macas ; 

 but on the lofs of the citv of Lo2;rono, the viilao;e of 

 Cuambaya and other places, it was removed to Loja, 

 and. fmcc to Cuen^a. The revenues paid into it 

 confift of the tribute of the Indians of this depart- 

 ment, together with that of Alaufi, the jurifdidion of 

 Loja, and the government of Jean de Bracamoros ; 

 the duties on provifions, and the cuftoms colle6led at 

 Naranjal. 



The inhabitants here, though of the fame clafTes 

 with thofe of Qiiito, differ fomething in their genius 

 and manners ; particularly in a moft fhameful indo- 

 lence, which feems fo natural to them, that they have 

 a flrano;e averfion to all kinds of work ; the vulcrar 

 are alfo rude, vindidlive, and, in fhort, wicked in 

 every fenfe. From this general reproach, the women 

 muft, however, be excepted, being remarkable for 

 an uncommon fpirit of indufiryi as if they v/ere de- 



terffiincd 



