158 



PAYTA. 



population of Indians continued to diminish^ 

 though other castes sensibly increased."^ 



8th. — Every body swings here in grass ham- 

 mocks ; I use one in the piazza of Mr. Gir- 

 don^s house^ looking on the sea ; and what 

 can be done better with the thermometer at 

 80° in the shade^ than doze half the day 

 through ? I receive the utmost attention from 

 my host^ who does all in his power to make 

 my residence at Payta agreeable to me ; and if 

 his great kindness could prevail upon me to 

 prolong my stay^ I have no want of that 

 inducement. My attempts to depart have 

 hitherto proved fruitless. I offered a good 



* I am indebted for many of these particulars respect- 

 ing the Indians to the " Noticias Secretas," a report of 

 the celebrated Ulloa to the Spanish government, which 

 has been but recently published in Spanish, and of which, 

 I believe, no translation has appeared in English. 



