UPon the Twenty day of June Anno Domini One Thousand Six Hundreth Ninty Eight , There happened a most dreadful Earthquake 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 principally felt from Rio Bambo to Chimbo , and from Quito 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 having stoped the Water , afforded them time to retire to a Neighbouring Mountain . Tacunga is utterly destroyed , with most of the Inhabitants ; & most of the Churches and Houses of Rio Bambo are overturned , but all the People , except 40 escaped . 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 Volcano's of Pasto is broke out into dreadful Smoak and Flames , with extraordinary Noise :