QUITO, the name of an extensive province of South America, is bounded on the north by that of Santa Fe de Bogota, on the west by the Pacific, on the south by Peru, and on the east by the Portuguese territories. It is 600 miles long from north to south, and about 1800 broad. The population however is chiefly confined to the valley between the two Cordilleras of the Andes, which resembles a street when compared with the whole extent of the country, which, especially in the eastern governments, is thinly scattered with missionary villages.
The productions of Quito are extremely various, owing to the variety of climate and of elevation which it enjoys. The level and champaign districts produce harvests of Indian corn in great abundance, while the bottoms of deep cavities, enjoying a still warmer tem perature, are planted with sugar canes, from which great quantities of sugar and rum are obtained. The lands near the summits of'the mountains, possessing various temperatures, produce wheat, barley, potatoes, and pot-herbs of all kinds. Above these plantations, on the mountain plains, are fed numerous flocks of sheep, the wool of which ds employment to a great number of people. Sonie of the farmers rear cows for the pur pose of making butter and cheese, while others breed cattle, and at the same time manufacture cloth, baizes, and serges.
Although the climate varies very rapidly in this country, and though in the course of half a day we may pass from the heat of the torrid to the cold of the frigid zone, yet in the same place vicissitudes seldom occur. This equability of the climate in the same place, joined to the great fertility of the soil, occasions a regular suc cession of the productions of the earth. No sooner are the fruits matured, and the leaves begin to change their colour, than fresh leaves, blossoms, and fruits ap pear on the same tree in their proper gradations ; and as the same happens with regard to corn, the operations of sowing and reaping arc carried on at the same time.
The corn and fruits are here particularly excellent ; and the beef, veal, mutton, pork, and poultry, are remarkably delicate and fine.
The principal manufactures of Quito are cottons, some of which are white, called Tucuyos, and others striped, baizes and cloths, which find a ready market at Lima. The interior provinces of Peru are thus sup plied with them in return for silver, gold, silver frin ges, wine, brandy, oil, copper, tin, lead, and quick silver. The agricultural productions of Quito, are chief ly consumed within the province, with the exception of the wheat, a part of which is sent to Guayquil. The quantity of cheese annually consumed within the pro vince, is calculated at between seventy and eighty thou sand dollars of the money of the country. Goods manu factured by the public, or woven by private Indians, are sent together with some kinds of provisions, to the jurisdiction of Barbacoas. These provisions are ex changed for the gold found in the country, which, is disposed of in Lima at a greater price. The stuffs of Quito find a market in the governments of Popaynn and Santa Fe. Indigo in very great quantities is brought into the province from the coast of New Spain, and by way of Guayaquil iron and steel are imported both from Europe and the coast of Guatimala.
In our articles on the ANDES, and PHYSICAL GEO GRAPHY, will be found much curious information re specting this province. Sec Ulloa's Voyage, vol. iv.; Alcedo's Dictionary; and Humboldt's Personal Xarrative.