Page:The Present State of Peru.djvu/529

Rh quitted Chavin of Pariaca by the new road, the traveller has to proceed four leagues to the town of Xican, whence to the tambo of the Virgin, he passes over a league of fertile ground abounding in pastures. Here the rugged heights which form the frontier of the mountainous territory begin; and the shelter they afford renders the cold less sensible than before. A league and a half further, a spacious cavern, formed by Nature, and named by the Indians, Quisullomachai, offers a lodging to the passengers, however numerous they may be; and in its vicinity they will find abundant pastures for their cattle. If they are desirous, however, to be more commodiously lodged, they will proceed another league, to the tambo of Magrapata, the pastures still presenting themselves as before. Somewhat more than half a league beyond this baiting place, lies Palmamachai, where the mountainous territory commences, and where there are likewise good pastures, together with several natural caverns in the rocks, affording as good a lodging as can be desired, and a number of huts built by the guides. A quarter of a league further, the traveller reaches the site named Querecoto: it may be denominated a town, in consequence of the numerous huts built there by the workmen who were engaged in making the new road. From Querecoto to Pucliartambo, which implies the tambo of recreation, distant a league and a quarter, several large and beautiful plains, highly susceptible of cultivation, and containing the vestiges of plantations and decayed huts, present themselves to the traveller’s view. Having proceeded another league, he falls in with the river of Santa Rosa, over which there is a commodious bridge. In this part, the soil, and the temperature of the air, are admirably calculated for the cultivation of plantains, canes, &c.; and accordingly a fine plantation has been made, since the new road was constructed. The drained lake of Negrococha next occurs, at the distance of somewhat more than a league, having in its vicinity good arable lands, and several decayed huts deserted by the ancient proprietors. Having journied another league, the traveller reaches the great marshes of Chapacra, in which there was formerly a