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roarings of the volcano were heard as far as 
Honda^ a town on the borders of the Magdalena, 
and at the distance of two hundred conjmon 
leagues. On the 4th of April, 1768, the quantity 
of ashes ejected by the mouth of Cotopaxi was 
so great, that in the towns of Hambato and 
Tacunga day broke only at three in the after- 
noon, and the inhabitants were obliged to use 
lanterns in walking the streets. The explosion 
which took place in the month of January, 1803, 
was preceded by a dreadful phenomenon, the 
sudden melting of the snows that covered the 
mountain. For twenty years before, no smoke 
or vapour, that could be perceived, had issued 
from the crater ; and in a single night the sub- 
terraneous fire became so active, that at sun- 
rise the external wails of the cone, heated, no 
doubt, to a very considerable temperature, ap- 
peared naked, and of the dark colour, which is 
peculiar to vitrified scorise. At the port of Guay- 
aquil, fifty-two leagues distant in a straight line 
from the crater, we heard, day and night, the 
noises of the volcano, like continued discharges 
of a battery ; we distinguished these tremendous 
sounds even on the Pacific Ocean, to the south- 
west of the island of Puna. 
Cotopaxi is situate to the south-east of the 
city of Quito, at the distance of twelve leagues, 
between the mountain of Ruminnavi; the sum- 
mit of which, rugged with small separate rocks. 
