191

LIII. PERU.

1. Boundaries. Peru is bounded N. by The Equator; E. by Brazil; S. by Bolivia and the Pacific ocean, and W. by the Pacific ocean. It extends from 3° to 22° S. Lat., and from 67 to 82° W. Lon., having an area of 500,000 square miles, with a population of 1,800,000.

2. Mountains. Several chains of the Andes traverse Peru from south to north. The principal chain lies nearly parallel to the coast, and contains the loftiest summits, among which is the volcano of Arequipa, 17,750 feet high. Two other chains of less elevation separate th waters of the Tunguragua from those of the Huallaga, and those of the latter from the confluents of the Paro.

3. Rivers. The only considerable rivers of Peru are the Tunguragua, the Paro or Ucayali, and some other tributaries of the Amazon, which descend the eastern declivities of the Andes.

4. Lake. Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America, is 240 miles in circuit, and 400 feet deep. Its waters are fresh, and it is remarkable for the great elevation of its bed, which is about 13,500 feet above the sea.

5. Coast. The nature of the coast on the Pacific ocean is by no means favorable to navigation, and affords no harbor except Callao, which admits the larger merchant vessels. There is also on every part of the shore such a tremendous surf, caused by the uninterrupted swell from the sea, that no communication can be had with the land by boats of the common construction. The natives, however, have a contrivance called balsa, consisting of two seal skins, lashed together and covered with a sort of platform, on which sits the pilot of this strange craft. Being blown up by the breath of the navigator, these balsas are so buoyant, as to pass the most terrific breakers in safety.

6. Face of the Country. Peru consists of three distinct regions, differing in regard to surface, soil, and climate. Between the mountains and the sea, a narrow strip of sandy plain extends along the whole coast, with extensive intervals in which no traces of vegetation appear. In this sterile tract, varying in breadth from 30 to 100 miles, no rain ever falls, but the dews are heavy and uniform; thunder and lightning are unknown, and there is little variation of temperature, the heat being constant, but seldom intense. Here are produced the tropical plants, sugar cane, cocoa, plantains, coffee, &c. The next division is the mountainous region, which, commencing at the termination of the sandy district with hills of moderate elevation, rises gradually to the loftiest summits. Here as in Mexico and New Grenada, the traveller ascends through successive layers of climate, from regions of perpetual summer to those of eternal snows. The valleys and sides of the mountains are covered with impenetrable forests of gigantic trees, overrun with luxuriant creeping or parasitical plants. This region spreads out into an extensive table-land, which, stretching far to the east and south, has an elevation of from 4,000 to 9,000 feet. Much of the soil in this region is fertile, and the climate of the table-land is mild and temperate. To the east of the mountains, in the northeastern part, begins the great plain of the Amazon, in which the heat is excessive and the climate moist and unhealthy. Like the llanos of Venezuela this great level is intersected by forests along the banks of the rivers, which break up its surface into separate grassy plains,here called pampas.

7. Minerals. The mountainous region abounds with mineral wealth; gold, silver, and quicksilver have been most extensively worked, though other metals are abundant. The richest silver mines are those of Pasco or Lauricocha, Huantajaya, Chota, and Puno. Quicksilver abounds at Huancavelica. Several of these mines are elevated at the height of from 12,000 to 14,000 feet. Gold is obtained in several places from washings.

Peru is divided into seven departments, which are

8. Divisions. subdivided into provinces.

9. Towns. The capital and largest town of Peru is Lima, which stands upon the small river Rimac, about 6 miles from its mouth. The streets are regular, but the buildings are low, on account of the frequency and violence of the earthquakes. The city is surrounded with a wall, built of bricks baked in the sun. The churches are distinguished for the profusion and richness of their gold and silver ornaments, vessels, statues, &c, and the religious ceremonies are solemnised with great splendor. The government palace, the archbishop's palace, the cathedral, the mint, the university building, the circus for the exhibition of bull fights, and the theatre, with numerous churches and convents, are the principal public edifices. Lima has an active commerce and extensive manufactures. Population 70,000. Its port Callao, the strongest fortress and principal seaport of Peru, contains 3,000 inhabitants. It is connected with Lima by a magnificent road.

Arequipa, in the southern part of Peru, is a flourishing city, situated in a rich and agreeable country, 8,000 feet above the level of the It carries on an extensive trade, and its cotton and woollen manufactures employ great numbers of the inhabitants. Population 30,000.

sea.

Cuzco is the second city of Peru, and was formerly the capital of the empire of the Incas, or native Peruvian princes. It was regarded by the natives as a sacred city, and the celebrated temple of the sun, with its gorgeous decorations of gold and silver, was one of the richest in the world. Two immense causeways 1500 miles in length, led from the city to Quito, and their remains still exist. The city now contains 46,125 inhabitants, a university and other literary institutions, with several convents and churches.

Huamanga, a commercial and manufacturing city, with 25,000 inhabitants, and Huancavelica, with a population of 12,000, near which are the rich quicksilver mines, now obstructed by rubbish, are the principal places in the department of Ayacucho, which derives its name from a little village, where the Spanish forces were defeated by the Colombian general Sucre, in 1824.

Puno, Chiquito, Truxillo, Caxamarca, Huanuco and Tarma are considerable towns, with from 10,000 to 15,000 inhabitants.

10. Inhabitant. The whites compose but a small part of the population; there are many mestizoes, and some Negroes, but the bulk of

the inhabitants are Peruvian Indians, who retain their native language, and observe the external forms of the Roman Catholic Religion. They are timid, indolent, and poor. In the north and east are extensive regions occupied by unreclaimed Indians. The mode of travelling in some parts of the country is peculiar; the deep ravines in the mountains are passed by travellers in baskets suspended from ropes, which are stretched across these terrific chasms. In some places these fissures are crossed by pendulous bridges of ropes, covered with reeds.

11. History. This country was occupied by a highly civilised native race, when it was discovered and conquered by the Spaniards under Pizarro, in 1532. It afterward became a Spanish province, but in 1821 declared itself an independent state, and adopted a republican form of government resembling that of the other Spanish provinces of South America.

LIV. BOLIVIA

1. Boundaries and Extent. Bolivia is bounded north by Peru and Brazil; E. by Brazil; S. by the United Provinces of the Plata, and by Chile, and W. by the Pacific ocean and Peru. It extends from S. Lat. 11° to 24°, and from 58° to 71° W. Lon., with an area of 410,000 square miles, containing 1,300,000 inhabitants.

2. Mountains. The great central chain of the Andes traverses the southwestern part of Bolivia, and is continued into Peru. In latitude 20° S. a lateral chain branches off in a northeasterly direction, and with a semicircular sweep passes to the east and northeast of lake Titicaca. This chain contains the loftiest summits of the American continent, Sorata 25,400 feet, and Illimani 24,250 feet in height, and forms the elevated table-land upon which lies lake Titicaca.

3. Rivers. The head waters of the two great rivers of South America, the Amazon and the Plata, descend from the Bolivian table-land. The only considerable river, which has its whole course in Bolivia, is the Desaguadero, or outlet of lake Titicaca, which takes a southerly course, and loses itself in the salt plains of Potosi.

4. Climate and Soil. The climate, soil, and productions resemble those of Peru, but as the Bolivian table-land is more elevated than the Peruvian, the cold is rather greater. The northeastern part of the country forms a portion of the great plain of the Amazon, and has therefore a much higher temperature.

5. Minerals. The celebrated silver mines of Potosi are in a mountain near the city of that name. The summit of this rich mountain rises to an elevation of 16,300 feet, and the highest mine is upwards of 15,000 feet above the level of the sea. From the first discovery of these mines, in 1545, until 1803, they yielded about 1000 million dollars worth of silver, and since the latter period though imperfectly and unskilfully worked, have continued to produce about three millions annually.

6. Divisions. Bolivia is divided into 6 departments, which take their names from their respective capitals, and are subdivided into provinces. The eastern and northeastern part of the country is entirely occupied by the Moxos and Chiquitos Indians.

7. Towns. The capital, Chuquisaca, or La Plata, is situated in a pleasant and fertile plain, at an elevation of 9,500 feet. It is well built, and contains, among other public edifices, the Government House, a cathedral, the university buildings, and numerous convents. Population about 12,000.

The principal city of Bolivia is La Paz, which is said to contain 40,000 inhabitants. Although it lies in a deep valley, it is elevated 12,400 feet above the sea. Near it rises the colossal summit of Illimani. La Paz contains a cathedral, and several convents and churches.

Potosi was formerly a large and opulent city with 150,000 inhabitants, but is now so much reduced, as not to contain more than 10,000. It lies in a barren district, at the remarkable elevation of 13,700 feet above the sea, and it owed its former splendor to the mineral wealth of its neighborhood. It contains a mint, a cathedral, college, &c., and a monument has been erected here in honor of Bolivar.

Cochabamba lies in a rich and well cultivated region, which may be considered the granary of Bolivia. Population, 30,000.

Santa Cruz, an ill built town in a vast plain, has about 10,000 inhabitants; Oruro, in the vicinity of which are rich silver mines, 6,000. Cobija or Lamar is a little village in the desert of Atacama on the Bolivian coast, and deserves notice as being the only seaport of the republic.

8. Inhabitants. The population has much the same character with that of the other Spanish American states. The number of whites is small, the native Indians constituting upwards of one half of the whole mass of inhabitants.

9. History. The Bolivian territories, or as they are commonly called the provinces of Upper Peru, were detached from the Spanish vice-royalty of Peru, and annexed to that of the Plata in 1778. In 1824 the Spanish authority was overthrown by the victory of Ayacucho, and in the succeeding year the people of Upper Peru determined to remain a separate state, under the name of Bolivia. The constitution of government is republican.

LV. CHILI.

1. Boundaries and Extent. The republic of Chili is bounded N. by Bolivia; E. by the States of the Plata, and Patagonia; S. by Patagonia, and W. by the Pacific Ocean.-It extends from Lat. 25° to 44° S. and from 70° to 75° W. Lon., having an area of 172,000 square miles, and containing 1,400,000 inhabitants. The island of Chiloe and the Archipelago of Chonos in the south belong to the republic, which also claims the isles of Juan Fernandez, at some distance from the coast, celebrated as the residence of Alexander Selkirk, whose adventures furnished the hint for the popular novel of Robinson Crusoe.

2. Mountains. The great chain of the Andes traverses the country from north to south, and presents a number of summits, the height of which has been estimated at upwards of 20,000 feet. The roads that lead across these mountains are impassable except in summer, and the bassage is even then difficult and hazardous. Among the Chilian

Andes there are said to be 14 volcanoes in a state of constant eruption, and a still greater number that discharge smoke at intervals. Earthquakes are common.

3. Face of the Country. Chili presents a plain, gradually rising in elevation as it recedes from the coast and approaches the Andes. The country intercepted between the foot of the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, is divided into two equal parts, the maritime and midland. The maritime part is intersected by three ridges of mountains, running parallel with the Andes. The midland part is generally level, of great fertility, and enjoying a delightful climate.

4. Rivers. The rivers are numerous, but small, and have generally a rapid current, as they descend from elevated regions, and have a short course. The Maule and Biobio are navigable for a short distance.

5. Climate and Soil. Chili lies in the temperate zone, and enjoys a fine climate. In the northern provinces it rarely rains, and snow is never seen in the maritime districts. The soil is in general highly productive, particularly in the valleys of the Andes, and while the northern provinces yield various tropical productions, the southern produce the cereal grasses.

6. Minerals. The metallic wealth of the country is great; it is rich in mines of gold, silver, quicksilver, tin, copper, and iron. Gold is abundant, and is obtained from mines, and washings; the richest mines are in the part of the country now occupied by the Araucanians. Many of the richest silver mines are in the loftiest and coldest parts of the Andes, and have been abandoned in consequence of the difficulty and expense of working them.

7. Divisions. Chili is divided into 8 provinces, which are subdivided into districts:

Coquimbo,
Aconcagua,
Santiago,
Colchagua,

Maule,
Conception,
Valdivia,
Chiloe.

8. Towns. Santiago, the capital, is pleasantly situated in an exten sive plain at the foot of the Andes, on the river Mapocho. It is regularly laid out, and contains some splendid buildings; among them are the mint, one of the handsomest structures in South America, the Government palace, and the Cathedral, one of the most superb churches in America. Here are also a university, several colleges, and other literary institutions. Santiago has suffered much from earthquakes, particularly in 1822 and 1829. Population about 55,000.

Valparaiso, a flourishing and prettily built town, stands on the Pacific ocean, and has a fine harbor. It is the principal commercial place in Chili, and it has a population of 20,000 souls.

Coquimbo, which also stands on the coast, carries on an extensive commerce, and is a thriving place, although it has repeatedly been injured by earthquakes. Population, 12,000.

Conception, on the Biobio not far from its mouth, was almost completely destroyed by the Araucanians in 1823; but it is recovering from that disaster, and now has a population of about 10,000 souls.

Valdivia, distinguished for its excellent harbor, has 5,000 inhabitants. Huasco and Curico are small towns, having rich mines, the former of silver and the latter of gold, in their vicinity. Near Copiapo and Quillota are valuable copper mines.