or large jars, where it ferments.  In this process, besides the maize in its natural state, a certain quantity of maize which has been steeped in a particular manner is used as a ferment; and there are men and women who are versant in the manner of steeping maize, and are hired for this purpose.  When this kind of drink is made by means of stagnant water, it is reckoned stronger and better than when running water is used.  In the West Indian islands this drink is called chica, but the Peruvian name is azua.  It is either white or red, according to the kind of maize used for its preparation, and inebriates even more readily than Spanish wine; yet the Indians prefer the latter when it can be procured.  They make another kind of liquor from the fruit of certain trees, which they call molles; but it is by no means so well liked as azua from maize.

The first city of the Christians in the mountain of Peru is Quito, which is about four degrees to the south of the equator[22].  This city is situated in an agreeable and fertile district; and particularly since 1544 and 1545, when rich mines of gold were discovered in its neighbourhood, it has become populous, and continued to increase fast in the number of its inhabitants; till in the destructive civil wars its people were almost entirely cut off by Gonzalo Pizarro and his adherents, as they favoured the party of the viceroy Blasco Nugnez Vela, who made this place his ordinary residence.  The Spaniards had no other establishment in the mountain till the discovery of the province of Bracamoras[23], by the captains, Juan Porcel and Vergara, who established some small colonies in these parts, on purpose to continue the discovery and conquest of the interior country; but these establishments have been since entirely ruined, as Gonzalo Pizarro recalled these two captains and their men to assist him in his war.  This discovery was made under the orders of the licentiate Vaca de Castro, who was then governor of Peru.  The Captain Porcel was sent by him from S. Miguel de Piura, and Vergara into the province of Chachapoyas farther to the south; but they unexpectedly met each other in the course of their exploration of the country, and quarrelled about the boundaries of their discoveries, in consequence of which they were recalled by Vaco de Castro, and were at Lima at the commencement of the civil war in the service of the viceroy; and when he was made prisoner they entered into the party of Gonzalo Pizarro.  The place which they discovered, called Bracamoras, is a hundred and sixty leagues from Quito by way of the mountain; and eighty leagues farther south they discovered a province named Chacaapoyas, where there is a small Christian town named Levanto[24].  This province abounds in provisions, and has mines of some value.  Its situation is peculiarly strong against an enemy, as it is surrounded on all sides by a deep valley, in which runs a considerable river; so that by breaking down the bridges, it may be made very difficult of access.  The Maestre de Campo Alfonzo de Alvarado, who held the command of this province, established a colony of Christians at this place.