sure, called the Ravine of the Sun (Inti-Guaicu), in which rises a solitary mass of sandstone, sixteen or eighteen feet high. One of the sides of this rock is cut perpendicularly, and is remarkably white. On it is traced concentric circles, representing the sun, and a few steps lead to a seat directly opposite this image. All around the temple are pathways cut in the rock, leading to a place called the Gardens of the Inca, in which is a singular mount, artificially raised, on whose summit is an enclosed seat, big enough for one person only, commanding a most delightful view of several beautiful cascades. This seat has arabesques sculptured in the form of a chain on the walls which form its back, and defend it from a precipice on the brink of which it is placed.

In Riobamba the Llamas or Peruvian camels are seen. They are indeed so common, that hardly any Indian has less than one to carry his goods when he travels:

RIOBAMBA is the chief town of this district. This town was destroyed by the dreadful earthquake of the 4th February 1797, when the Peak of Sicalpa, falling on the place, stopped the course of two rivers, so that not a vestige of the town remained; and of 9000 inhabitants, 400 only escaped. Thirty or forty thousand Indians are supposed to have perished at the same time, in this and the neighbouring districts. Latacunga, and most of the villages

in its jurisdiction, were destroyed. Near Hambato, the mountains split; and a village called Quero, with all its inhabitants, was buried under a cliff that gave way. Another place, called. Pelileo, was overwhelmed in a torrent of heated water and mud. The plains were completely altered; and in a few hours after the commencement of this calamity, a deadly silence alone indicated the general ruin. This terrible event appears to have been caused by an internal eruption of the volcano of Tunguragua, between Latacunga and Riobamba, as tremendous subterraneous thunders proceeded from that quarter, and the devastation was all in its vicinity. The town has been rebuilt in a more convenient spot.

It contains 20,000 souls, and is large and handsome, with two churches, four convents, two nunneries, and an hospital..

Riobamba produces silver and gold (but the mines are not worked), and cochineal, cotton, flax, wheat, sugar, barley, &c.

It carries on a brisk trade with Guayaquil. The village of Lican, in this division, is noted as having been anciently the residence of the kings of Quito.

1. The town of HAMBATO is situate in an extensive plain, having a large river crossed by a bridge on its northern side.

Its houses are built of unburnt bricks, and very low; and the parish church and a con

vent, with two chapels, are the principal public buildings.

This place suffered severely in the earthquake which destroyed Latacunga, as the volcano of Carguirazo, part of which fell in, vo.mited forth torrents of mud, ashes, and water; and the heat of the crater melting the snow, it precipitated down the sides of the mountain, sweeping away every thing before it.

The number of its inhabitants is about 9000.

SECTION XLII.

CHIMBO.

THE next district is Chimbo, whose principal town has the same name.

The temperature of the air in Chimbo is generally cold, from the proximity of the snowy summits of Chimborazo.

CHIMBO, the capital, is a small place, containing only about eight families.

Guayaquil being separated only by the ridge of the mountains from this district, carries on all the trade of Quito to the Pacific through it; the bales of cloth, stuffs, meal, corn, and .other products of the interior, passing over this ridge to the port of Guayaquil, whence comes wine, brandy, salt, fish, oil, and other goods

necessary for the internal provinces. This traffic can, however, be carried on only in summer, the roads being, impracticable in the winter season for mules or other beasts.

The chief object of the farmers in this district is the breeding of mules, for the purposes of the trade before-mentioned.

SECTION XLIII.

GUAYAQUIL.

GUAYAQUIL is the largest and most important district of Quito. It begins at Cape Passado, 21' south of the equinoctial line, and stretching south, includes the island of Puna, and is terminated by Piura in Peru.

This country is mostly a continued plain. During the winter months, this district is infested by insects and vermin, and is subject to dreadful storms and inundations, which oblige the farmers to send their cattle to the Andes.

In the rainy season, fevers, dysenteries, diarrhoeas, the black vomit or yellow fever, and other disorders, are common, and carry off great numbers of people. At this period also, snakes, scorpions, vipers, and scolopendras, find their way into the houses, and are sometimes

even found in the beds. The boba, a serpent of immense size, is also common. These, with swarms of musquitoes, and other venomous insects, render the towns very unpleasant during this season; and alligators, of an enormous size, cause the rivers and flooded places to be very dangerous.

The inundations spread to such an extent in some parts, that Babahoyo, one of the departments, is converted into a large lake, and the villages, which are always on heights, can be approached only with boats. These floods add, however, very greatly to the fertility of the country, as the cacao plantations and meadows thrive exceedingly when the water subsides.

In the summer, the heat being moderated by the sea and land breezes, the number and activity of all these creatures is much decreased; and this season, which is the coldest, renovates the inhabitants, who have been rendered listless and indolent by the suffocating heat which prevails during the rains.

The river Guayaquil is not only the largest but the most important of all the streams in the jurisdiction. It rises in the Andes, and, pursuing a serpentine course, flows into the Pacific in the Bay of Puna. The torrents which flow in all directions from the mountains, contribute to swell this river, and it inundates the country to a great extent. Its mouth is about three miles wide at Isla Verde;