PAYTA. 



165 



Never was destruction more complete. Of three 

 thousand inhabitants^ only one Hved to tell the 

 tale, who escaped by a most extraordinary 

 hazard. The man was protected in a bastion of 

 the fortress, looking upon the sea. He observed 

 from this situation the inhabitants rush out of 

 their houses, in the greatest terror and con- 

 fusion, and before they had time to escape to a 

 safer place, the sea which had retired previously, 

 returned with great violence, and overwhelmed 

 with its waves every inhabitant of the port but 

 himself. 



I sometimes go into the market-place in the 

 town, to see the Indians assemble there, selling 

 fruit and vegetables. The women are all short, 

 but delicately formed, with beautiful hands and 

 feet, and very fine black straight hair, braided 

 into plaits, and failing over their shoulders. 

 They wear large Guayaquil grass hats, and a 



