526 AVOYACETO fiooicVt 



of thefe dreadful convulfions of nature art ftill vifibie 

 in feveral chafms among the mountains, many being 

 two or three feet broad ; a convincing pfoof of th^ 

 violent concufTions in the bowels of the earth at the 

 time of that cataftrophe. The temperature of the air 

 is here fomething colder than at Cuenfa but ndt in 3t 

 degree fufficient to leffen the exuberant fertility of the 

 foil. 



Among the great variety of mines in \hc jurifdi<5liori 

 of Cuen^a, and which I (hall confider more at large 

 in the fequel, thofe of gold and filver, according to 

 the common opinion, are not the lead numerous. Re- 

 port has indeed magnified them to fuch a degree^that, 

 to prove the aftonilhing quantity of thofe metals, the 

 inhabitants relate the following ftory, the truth of 

 which I do not pretend to warrant. It exhibits in- 

 deed an inftance fo contrary to the common order 

 of things, as to be fcarce reconcileabie to reafon. I 

 lhail, however, venture to relate it, becaufe, if thd 

 reader Ihould think it incredible, it will at lead ferve 

 to convey an idea of the riches fuppofed to be con-^ 

 cealed in the bowels of the mountains. 



Between the vallies of Chugui-pata, which ex- 

 tend from the village and jurifdiftion of Los Azogues 

 fouthward, and that of Poute running eaftward along 

 the banks of the fame name, are feveral eminences which 

 divide the two plains, and among thefe one higher than 

 the reft called Supay-urco, a name faid to have beerl 

 given it on the following account. An inhabitant of 

 the province of Eftrainadura in Spain, from the ex- 

 tremity of his diftreis, abandoned himfelf to defpair $ 

 and in the frenzy of his wild imagination, fomedmes 

 implored the affiftance of Satan, and fometimes curfed 

 the moment that gave birth to his wretched being, 

 and was for laying violent hands upon himfelf. The 

 devil taking advantage of his condition appeared to 

 him, but in a drefs which fufficiently concealed hi^ 

 nature, and courteoufly ailced the caufe of his esf* 

 2 cefTive 



