[ 62 i ] 
from it. At the fame time, a volcano burft out fud- 
denly in the neighbouring mountain of Carguayrafo, 
as before-mentioned ; and, ct near Ambato, the earth 
“ opened itfelf in feveral places, and there yet re- 
<c mains, to the fouth of that town, a cleft of four 
“ or five feet broad, and about a league in length, 
<c lying north and fouth; there are alfo leveial other 
“ like^clefts on the other fide of the river.” The city 
of * Quito was affe&ed at the fame time, but re- 
ceived no damage, though it is no more than forty- 
two geographical miles from Latacunga, not fai from 
whence the greateft violence of the fiiock feems to 
have exerted itfelf. Thefe towns are fuppofed. to 
ftand by far the highefi. of any in the world, ^being 
as high above the level of the fea, as the tops or fomc 
of the highefi: mountains in Europe; and the giound 
upon which Riobamba (lands, _ wants but f ninety 
yards of being three times as high as Snowdon, the 
highefi mountain in Wales. 
84. The country upon which thefe towns icanu, 
ferves as a bafe, from whence ante another let of 
high lands and mountains, which are much the 
highefi in the known world. Amongft thefe moun- 
tains there are no lefs than fix volcanos, if not moie. 
* The city of Quito ftands lower than the level of Riobamba, 
by about 500 yards perpendicular. Though it efcaped t is, 1 
has lately, however, been deftroyed by another violent earthquake, 
that happened on the 28th April 1756, of which I have not ye 
feen any other particulars worth notice. - 
f This is according to Antonio d’Ulloa’s account ; but Mon . 
Condamine makes it exaftly three times the height of Snowdon, 
computing it at 1770 toifes. [See his meafure of a degree of the 
meridian.] . . 
4 L 2 Within 
