34^' A VOYAGE TO Book VI. 



quality, 'that it never wears off, nor becomes moift, 

 though rubbed with fpittie. The cabinets, tables, 

 &c. made by the Indians of this country and thus 

 varnifhed, are carried to Qiiito, where they are highly 

 valued. 



PoPAYAN is one of the bed trading countries within 

 the province of Quito, as all the vaft variety of Spanifh 

 goods from Carthagena are configned thither and 

 forwarded to Quito-, and great numbers of traders go 

 their rounds through the feveral jurifdidlions, to the 

 great conveniency of the towns and villages, which thus 

 fupply themfelves. Befides this tranfitory commerce, 

 it has another reciprocal with Quito, to which it ex- 

 ports horned cattle and mules, and receives in return 

 cloths and bays. Its adtive commerce confifts in dried 

 beef, faked pork, roll-tobacco, hogs-lard, rum, cot- 

 ton, pita, ribbons, and other fmall wares, which are 

 brought to Choco, and there exchanged for gold ; 

 fugar and fnuff are imported from Santa Fe and fent 

 to Quito ; and the teturns to Santa Fe are home-made 

 cloths and bays. Here is alfo another trafiick, which 

 confifts in bartering filver for gold : for, there being 

 an abundance of the latter, and a fcarcity of the former, 

 filver is brought to exchange for gold ; of which great 

 profit is made by converting it into doubloons : the 

 like is aifo pradifed at Choco and Barbacoas, which 

 are in the fame cafe as to metals. 



PoPAYAN being the centre of ail thefe feveral kinds 

 of commerce, the moft wealthy perfons of the whole 

 jurifdid:ion are here, and five or fix of its inhabitants 

 are reckoned to be m.afters of above 100,000 dollars-5 

 twenty to be v;orth betwixt 40 and 80,000, befides 

 .many of fmaller, yet handfome, fortunes : and this 

 exciufive of their farms and mines, with which this 

 country abounds. The former are the fame with 

 thofe I have had occafion to mention in the other 

 parts of this province, according to the quality of the 

 temperature. . , 



6 West 



