Ch. IV. SOUTH AMERICA. 553 



Hands ; and this fitnation proved its ruin on the 30th 

 of Nov. 1744, when, by the explofion of the Vol- 

 cano, or Cotopaxi, of which a more particular ac- 

 count fliall be given in another place, this river 

 became fo fwelled by the torrents of melted fnow 

 and ice, that it entirely bore down the town of Napo, 

 and the houfes were carried along by the impetuofity 

 of the current. 



The city of Avila, but very much below that title, 

 ftands on 00 degr. 44 min. S. lat. and near 2 deg. 

 20 min, E. of Qiiito. It is fo much lefs than the 

 former, that its inhabitants fcarce amount to 300 of 

 both fexes. Its houfes are built of the fame materials. 

 It has alfo a prieft, whofe ecclefiaftical jurifdiftion 

 comprehends fix towns, fome of them in largenefs and 

 number of inhabitants not inferior to the city. Thefe 

 are, 



I. La Conception. IV. Motte. 

 II. Loreto. V. Cota Pini. 



III. San Salvador. IV. Santa Rofa, 



The foregoing towns conilitute the chief part of 

 this government; but it alfo includes the towns of the 

 miffion of Sucumbios, the chief of which is San Mi- 

 guel. At the beginning of this century they were 

 ten, but are now reduced to thefe five : 



I. San Diego de los Palmares. 

 II. San Francifco de los Curiquaxes. 



III. San Jofeph de los Abuccees. 



IV. San Chriftoval de los Yaguages. 



V. San Pedro de Alcantara de la Cocao, or Nariguera. 



The inhabitants of the two cities, and the villages 

 in the dependencies, and thofe of Baeza, are obliged, 

 to be conftantly upon their guard againft the infidel 

 Indians, who frequently commit depredations among 

 their houfes and plantations. They compofe different 



Vol. I. A a and 



