the capital of the republic and of the department of Ecuador, stands in a ravine on the E. side of the volcano Pichincha, 9534 feet above the sea, 150 miles N.N.E. of Guayaquil; S. Lat. 0. 13°, W. Long. 78°. 50'. A small part of the town is built on level ground, but the most of it occupies the slope of a hill, which is in some places exceedingly steep. The level part is chiefly occupied by a large square, containing the cathedral, episcopal palace, government palace, and town-hall, and having a fountain in the centre. From the corners of this square extend four broad, straight, but short streets, which are the best in the town; the others being narrow, crooked, and uneven, and many of them unpaved. The cathedral is a plain building, and is excelled in beauty by none of the other churches. The former Jesuits' college, a large and handsome building, with a Corinthian front, is now occupied by the university. There are also two ecclesiastical colleges, and several convents and hospitals. The houses are seldom more than one storey in height, and are generally built of sun-dried bricks, flat-roofed, and thatched with maguey leaves. Cotton, coarse woollen fabrics, hosiery, silk, lace, leather, and confectionary, are among the manufactures of the town. The markets are well supplied with provisions; grain and other rural produce are exported to central America, and hardware, cloth, &c., imported from Europe. Quito was founded by Sebastian Benalcasar in 1534. It has frequently suffered from earthquakes. Pop. 70,000.