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THE Great Earthquake At Quito in Peru Which destroyed a great Number of the SPAINIARDS IN THE WEST INDIES.
UPon the Twenty day of June Anno Domini One Thousand Six Hundreth Ninty Eight, There happened a most dreadful Earth∣quake near Quito, two Mountains opening, from whence issued a prodigious quantity of Water and black Mud, and overflow'd the Countrey. The River Ambato and some others, swell'd to such a Degree, that they ruin'd a great Number of Gradens, Houses and Mills, and drowned much People and Cattel. The Earthquake was princi∣pally felt from Rio Bambo to Chimbo, and from Qui∣to to Mignel, where it did great mischief: The Town of Ambato is utterly ruined, and most of the Inhabitants drowned in their Beds: The Town of Patate 4 Leagues distant was overflowed, but all the People exeept 200 escaped, the Mud ha∣ving stoped the Water, afforded them time to re∣tire to a Neighbouring Mountain. Tacunga is ut∣terly destroyed, with most of the Inhabitants; & most of the Churches and Houses of Rio Bambo are overturned, but all the People, except 40 e∣scaped. Letters also from Popajan of the 10th. of September last give account, that they had heard terrible Roarings under Ground, which puts them into a General Consternation, and one of the Vol∣cano's of Pasto is broke out into dreadful Smoak and Flames, with extraordinary Noise: