summit, attended by explosions which are heard 120 miles distant, and when the wind is fair, are audible even at Quito. The country adjacent to this volcano is totally barren, being covered with cinders. In this desert, the river Sangay rises, and joining the Upano, flows into the Marañon under the name of the Payra. Sangai is 17,131 feet above the level of the sea.

The Altar, or El Altar, is on the eastern crest, in the district of Riobamba, joining itself by a high desert to another peak called Collanes. The Indians have a tradition, that El Altar was formerly more lofty than Chimborazo, but that its summit suddenly fell in. By the latest observation, it is found to be 17,256 feet above the level of the sea.

Tunguragua is seven leagues north of Riobamba. The figure of this volcanic mountain is conical, and very steep. Riobamba was destroyed by its dreadful eruptions. Some hot springs gush out through crevices in its sides, which has caused warm baths to be erected for the accommodation of invalids. Tunguragua is 16,500 feet above the level of the sea.

North-west of Riobamba is Carguirazo, which just enters the lower period of congelation. Near this mountain and Chimborazo is the road leading to Guayaquil, passing over such lofty deserts, and such dangerous places, that many people perish in attempting to travel over it in bad weather, or in winter. The height of this

mountain is 15,540 feet above the level of the

sea.

In these mountainous regions the wind is often so violent, that it tears off fragments of rocks. The academicians, in measuring their base, and taking the necessary angles, were often in danger by having their tents and huts suddenly blown over. The violence of the wind also hurled the snow about in so furious a manner, that they were often in danger of being buried under it. Though the huts were small, and crowded with people, yet every person was forced to have a chafing-dish of coals before him, owing to the intensity of the cold, and this under the equator: their feet swelled, their hands were covered with chilblains, and their lips were so chopped that speaking always brought blood. In some places even the Indians deserted their villages, to prevent their being forced to accompany the survey. Such was the rigour of the climate.

In this immense extent the population is chiefly confined to the valley, which is formed on the very ridge of the main chain of the Andes, by the parallel summits making a prolonged series of small narrow plains, extending from San Miguel de Ibarra to Loja, and to the country between those and Popayan, and from the western slope of the Cordillera to the ocean. The eastern governments, which will be hereafter mentioned, are chiefly immense

tracts, thinly scattered with missionary villages.

QUITO PROPER is subdivided from north to south into nine districts, viz. San Miguel de IBARRA, OTABALO, QUITO, LATACUNGA, RIOBAMBA, CHIMBO, GUAYAQUIL, CUENÇA, and LoXA or LOJA.

Of each of the districts of Quito we shall include a short sketch, in the description of its chief town.

SECTION XXXVII.

QUITO.

THE jurisdiction of QUITO, independent of the city, contains twenty-five villages, or parishes.

The lands are covered with plantations, in the plains, breaches or valleys, and up the sides of the mountains, as far as vegetation will reach, so as to be productive of any return to the cultivator. The valleys, being hot, grow sugar-canes and cotton; the plains, maize; and the higher regions, wheat, barley, &c. European grain was introduced into Quito by Father Jose Rixi, a native of Ghent in Flanders, who sowed some near the convent of St Francis; and the monks still show the vase in which

the first wheat came from Europe, as a sacred relic.

Above the regions which produce wheat, barley, potatoes, &c. are fed numerous flocks of sheep, which yield great quantities of wool; and cows are reared also in great numbers for the sake of cheese and butter.

Most of the villages of Quito are inhabited by Indians.

The capital of this presidency is QUITO. It is situated in 78° 10′ 15′′ west longitude, and 0° 13' 27" south latitude, on the eastern slope of the western branch of the equatorial Andes, thirty-five leagues distant from the coasts of the South Sea. The volcanic mountain Pichincha is the basis on which this celebrated city rests. Its crevices are so númerous in the environs, that many of the suburbian houses are built on arches; and from the acclivity of the ground, the streets are very irregular and uneven. The city has in its vicinity the great plains Turubamba and Inna Quito, covered with country-seats and cultivation; and the junction of these plains forms a neck of land, on which some of the streets are built.

The height of Quito above the level of the sea is 9510 feet; and it is backed by the conical summit of Javirac, immediately under that of Pichincha,-Javirac being 10,239 feet above the ocean, consequently 729 feet higher than the city.

The temperature of the climate is such, that neither heat nor cold are felt in extremes, though this may be experienced in a very short journey from it. The whole year is a perfect spring, with little or no variation; pleasant gales constantly waft the odours of the cultivated plains towards the town, and these are seldom known to fail or to become boisterous. The rain alone descends occasionally with impetuosity, and prevents the usual out-of-door avocations. With such a climate, and in the midst of plenty, the city is hourly liable to earthquakes, and its inhabitants are frequently occupied in noticing, with the most awful apprehensions, the slightest variations in the phenomena of the heavens; for from these they affect to judge of the approach of the subterraneous concussions which have so frequently destroyed the place. Of these, a very destructive one was experienced in 1775. In 1797, on the 4th of February, the face of the whole district was changed, and in the space of a second, forty thousand persons were hurled into eternity. During this tremendous scene, the ground opened in all directions, and vomit. ed out sulphur, mud, and water. This earthquake affected the temperature of the air, which is now commonly between forty and fifty-five degrees, whereas it was usually sixtysix or sixty-eight degrees; and since that time violent shocks have frequently been experienced.