The Corregidore is General, Don Hieronimo Boso.
Master le Camp, Don Christopher Ramadeo de Areano.
Serjeant Major, Don Francisco Gantes.
Commissaria de la Cavalaria, Don Antonio Calabria.
They have 5 Dons all Captains of Infantry, and each of ’em a large Company: One Don is a Captain of near 200 Horsemen, and there are Lieutenants, Ensigns, Serjeants, Corporals and Drummers to each Company, as customary among the Spaniards. By the most reasonable Computation of their Force, they could in a few days bring together 900 armed Horse and Foot Militia; and I was inform’d by them they had not less than 500 of these in a Body before we landed, and beat ’em out of the Town, there being always that Number ready in the Towns and adjacent Parts upon an Alarm. These and many more form’d a sorry Camp within a League of us in the Woods, whilst with about 160 Men we kept the Town till they ransom’d it. An English-man that run over to us after the Fight, who had lived 2 Years in the Town, and saw their Force, told us there were many more than what the Spaniards acknowledge by the abovemention’d Account, and that he saw at one time, a few Months before, upwards of 1100 Horse and Foot drawn up and muster’d before the Town.
Their other Towns are govern’d by Lieutenants deputed by the Corregidore; above half of ’em border on the same River and its Branches, so that they can join those of the Capital in 2 Tides, tho’ at several Leagues distance. These Towns and Lieutenancies are as follow.
A LIST of the Lieutenancy of this Province.
| Leagues. | ||
| Y Aquache, govern’d by a Lieutenant, distant from Guiaquil | 7 | |
| Bava | 12 | |
| Pemocho has 6 Brass Guns of 16 Pound Ball, both govern’d —by the same Lieutenant. | 14 | |
| Puna, | —By the same Lieutenant— | 9 |
| Naranghal, | 14 | |
| Machala, | 14 | |
| Daule, a Lieutenant | 7 | |
| Point St. Hellena, | —by the same Lieut.— | 30 |
| Colonche, | 20 | |
| Chongong, | 7 | |
| Chandoe, | 10 | |
| Sheba, | —by the same Lieut.— | 21 |
| Babaoya, | 16 | |
| Chilintoam, | 14 | |
| Porto Vaco, | —by the same Lieut.— | 34 |
| Charapeto, | 36 | |
| Peco Assaa, | 25 | |
| Manta, | 40 | |
| Hepe Hapa, | 30 | |
Porto Vaco was formerly the Metropolis of the Province, before the Government was removed to Guiaquil.
At Guiaquil.
In the Towns and the whole Province the Spaniards compute at least 10000 Inhabitants; but I believe there are many more. They are distinguish’d by themselves into 11 Classes or Sorts, which being particular, and worth remarking, I shall add a Description of them, for the Information of such as have not been in those Parts.
The first and chief is the original Spaniards, never yet mix’d with other People (at least as they pretend) and these are most respected.
2. The Mustees, begot by Spaniards on Indian Women.