In large buildings of every description there is generally a great proportion of timber, keeping up a connection from the foundation to the roof; thus there is less danger from the shocks of earthquakes than if they were built of brick or more solid materials; for the whole building yields to the motion, and the foundation being combined with the roof and other parts, the whole moves at the same time, and is not so easily thrown down. I suggested to a friend in Lima the idea of placing between every tenth layer of adobes one of long canes; this he put in practice, and afterwards informed me, that it was considered a great improvement, so much so, that he thought the plan would be generally adopted, especially as it produced a saving of timber, which is a dear article; had also the effect of preventing the walls from cracking by the shocks of earthquakes, and was equal to that of rafters of wood or frame-work and bajareque. The city is divided into four parishes, the Sagrario, with three rectors; Saint Ann, two; Saint Sebastian, two; Saint Marcelo, one. Here are two chapels of ease, that of Saint Salvador in the parish of Saint Ann, and that of the Orphans in the parish of the Sagrario. Over the bridge are the suburbs of Saint Lazaro, with one rector, a curate at the Cabesas and another at Carabaillo, five leagues from the city, beside several chapels on the different plantations. In the Cercado there is a parish of indians, founded by the Jesuits, and formerly under their care. The convents are numerous. I shall first give a list of them, and afterwards mention those that are individually worthy of notice. { La casa grande. San Francisco 3 { Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe } in the suburbs. { Recoleto de San Diego } { La casa grande. { Recoleta de la Magdalena. Santo Domingo 4 { Santo Tomas, college for studies. { Santa Rosa, hermitage. { Casa grande. { San Ildefonso, college for studies. San Augustin 4 { Nuestra Señora de guia, for novices. { Cercado, college, formerly of the Jesuits. { Casa grande. La Merced 3 { San Pedro Nolasco, college for studies. { Recoleta de Belen. { San Pedro, formerly colegio maximo of the San Pedro 1 { Jesuits, now Oratorio de San Felipe Neri. { Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados, formerly Desamparados 1 { belonging to the Jesuits, now to the Oratorio { de San Felipe Neri. { Angonizantes, buena muerte. San Camilo 2 { Recoleta, in the suburbs of San Lazaro. San Francisco 2 { San Francisco de Paula, minims, new. de Paula { Do. old, both in the suburbs of San Lazaro.