are subdivided into districts, townships, and curacies or parishes. The intendancy of Arequipa, has an extensive maritime border on the Pacific, but much of its territory is a dreary waste; it is, however, intersected by many fertile vallies, the principal of which are the vallies of Quilca, Moguegua, Locumba, and Tacna. These vallies abound with excellent vineyards, which produce great quantities of wine and brandy; there are also olive plantations; wheat, sugar, cotton, and Guinea-pepper, are likewise produced in these fertile regions. There are many valuable silver mines in this intendancy, of which several are very productive; copper is also found in the greatest abundance. Its capital is the city of Arequipa, situated in south latitude 16° 13′ 30′′ in the valley of Quilca, in a fertile country. It was founded in the year 1530, by Pizarro; near it is a dreadful volcano; the climate is very temperate, and the best in the country; but it has been four times laid in ruins by earthquakes. The houses are well built, generally of stone, and vaulted; the streets are kept clean by means of canals. Its distance is 60 miles from the port of Molendo, on the Pacific, and 290 miles from Lima, in a south-easterly direction. Its population is 23,988. The next most considerable place is the city of Moguegua, situated in the interior, about 50 miles east from the port of Ilo, in a rich valley already mentioned, which contains about 2,000 inhabitants. The principal ports of this intendancy are Iquique, in latitude 200 7/ south, a very commodious harbour, but a small village; Arica, in lat. 180 20 south, a small town, but the principal seaport of Arequipa. This intendancy has 136,800 inhabitants, and embraces seven districts.

Lima lies north of Arequipa, and south of Truxillo, and is the central intendancy on the Pacific border. Like Arequipa, the province of Lima is generally a sandy desert, except the vallies on the borders of the rivers, which descend from the mountains. The most beautiful and productive of these vallies, is that which is watered by the river Rimac. The plains watered by this river are covered with a luxuriant vegetation, and produce sugar, maize, rice, and the choicest fruits in abundance. In this delightful valley, on the banks of the river Rimac, stands the ancient and populous city of Lima, the capital, not only of this intendancy, but of all Peru.

This city which is the great emporium of trade for the whole Pacific coast of the continent of America, and the grand depot of the metallic regions of South America, into which they have been pouring their wealth for nearly three centuries, is situated in south lat. 12° 3'. About six miles west, is Callao, its natural harbour and port, at the mouth of the river Rimac. Lima is elevated about 600 feet above the level of the sea, and is skirted

by hills which overlook the city. It is surrounded by a wall of brick, and has seven gates. The form of the town is nearly triangular, the base extending along the river. Notwithstanding the frequent earthquakes which have destroyed this city, it occupies an area of ten miles in circumference, including the suburb of St. Lazaro, situated on the north side of the city, and separated from it by the Rimac, over which there is an excellent stone bridge. The streets are paved, and through them streams of water flow, conducted from the river a little above the city; they are broad, and cross each other at right angles, forming squares of 150 yards on each side. The houses are low, but commodious and handsome, having fruit gardens attached to most of them. In the centre of the great square there is a spacious and superb fountain. The city is divided into five parishes, and contains 23 monasteries, 14 nunneries, and 16 hospitals; a cathedral and a viceroyal palace. It is the seat of an university, a school for medicine, and numerous other public schools, besides being accommodated with a theatre, and other places of public amusement. In 1798, its population, by an accurate census, was 52,627; it is now estimated to contain near 70,000.

Lima was founded in 1535 by Pizarro, and is situated at the distance of 2865 miles from Buenos Ayres, in a north-westerly direction; 1215 miles from Potosi, in the same direction, and about 500 from the city of Cusco. Callao, the port of Lima, is situated at the mouth of the river Rimac, and is strongly fortified. The other ports belonging to this intendancy are Ancan and Huacho in the north, and Pisco and Chorillos in the south. It comprises eight districts, and a population of 149,112.

Truxillo is north of Lima, to which the climate, soil, and productions, are similar. Its capital is the city of Truxillo, situated in lat. 86' south, in the valley of Chimo, and was founded by Pizarro in 1535. It lies about one and a half miles distant from the sea. The houses are generally built of brick, and only one story high; its population is 5790. The port of Truxillo is Guanchaco, situated six miles north. The other port in this intendancy is Payta, in lat. 6° 56'. It contains a population of 230,967, and is divided into eight districts.

Cusco is situated 500 miles south-east of Lima, adjoining Up per Peru, among the rich vallies beyond the Andes. It is watered by the Apurimac, and other head waters of the Amazon. This intendancy enjoys a healthful and temperate climate, and is extremely rich in agricultural resources, producing wheat, sugar, and the choicest fruits in the greatest abundance; it contains also many valuable and productive gold mines. Its capital is the ancient city of Cusco, situated in 13° 32′ south lat., and was founded in the eleventh century by Manco Capac, the first Inca of Peru, and

It stands on

taken possession of by Francisco Pizarro, in 1534. an uneven site, skirted by mountains on the north and west. The ruins of the famous fort, built by the Incas, are still visible on the mountain north of the city. The houses are principally built of stone, and its public buildings are a cathedral, nine churches, and numerous convents. The Guatanay, a small river, runs

past the town. Its population is estimated at 32,082.

Huamanga is centrally situated west of Cusco, embracing many rich and fertile vallies, and is well watered by the head branches of the river Amazon, possessing many rich and productive silver mines. The principal city is Huamanga, lying in lat. 13° 1' S., on a declivity of a mountainous ridge, not remarkable for its height, but still so far above the river as to be scantily supplied with water. It was founded by Pizarro, in 1539, and is situated 180 miles south-cast of Lima. Its population is 25,970; it has a cathedral, an university, several chapels and convents, and an hospital. The country around the city is fertile and populous. The climate of the intendancy is temperate, and abounds with various kinds of grain, fruit, and cattle. There are several mines near Huamanga, but few of which are worked. This intendancy is sub-divided into seven districts, and contains a population of 111,559.

The intendancy of Huancavelica comprises four districts, and 30,917 inhabitants. Its principal town of the same name is situated in south lat. 12° 53', and has a population of 5156. The productions of the province are grain, sugar, and cattle.

Tarma produces grain, cattle, cocoa, and bark, and possesses several silver mines, one of which, called Yauricocha, yielded in one year, 2,816,703 dollars. It is divided into eight districts, and has a population of 201,259. Its capital of the same name as the province, lies in lat. 12° 33', and has 5538 inhabitants.

These intendancies are divided into curacies or parishes, which are, or were, under the colonial system, governed by a curate, acacique, and an alcade; the first a spiritual chief, whose business it is to teach the Roman Catholic religion; the second a collector of revenue; and the third a magistrate. The dignitaries of the church consist of bishops and arch-bishops, who enjoy immense revenues and formerly a corresponding influence. The churches and other religious houses are numerous and richly endowed. The population of Peru has been estimated at 1,300,000. This population is similar to other parts of America, formerly Spanish, consisting of Creoles, European Spaniards, Indians, Negroes, and the various mixed races. The European Spaniards have nearly disappeared, in consequence of the revolution. The Creoles constitute the enlightened portion of the community, and are the most efficient and patriotic supporters of VOL. II.

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liberty and independence. The people of colour comprising the Indians and all the casts have been much devoted to the revolution. The Indians, heretofore a much degraded class, have generally filled the ranks of the armies, and made excellent soldiers. The Negroes and Mulattoes are most numerous on the coast of the Pacific, and the Indians, Mestizos, and Cholos, in the interior. The latter class are derived from Mestizos and Indians. These degraded classes possess great muscular power, and are remarkable for the quickness of their perception, and their faculty for imitation. They make ingenious artisans and mechanics, excel in painting and sculpture; many of their performances in these arts are said not to be inferior to those of the Italian masters. Some of these classes have been even leaders in the revolution. Many mulattoes on the coast possess property, and make pretensions to learning, particularly to medicine, as they are not permitted to enter into the professions of law or divinity; they afford many expert quacks. Before the revolution, they obtained letters patent of the king, conferring on them the dignity and title of "Don," of which they were extremely vain.

The territory between the eastern and western range of the Andes, is generally windy and cold, although some temperate and fruitful vallies intervene. This tract is called La Sierra, and is rich in metallic wealth. There are frequent storms of rain, hail, and snow on the mountains, often attended with tremendous thunder. 'The year is divided into only two seasons; the wet and dry; the former commences in November, and continues until April; the latter occupies the remainder of the year, during which there is no rain. This is the winter of the climate, there being frequent frosts of considerable severity. The coldest weather occurs in May and June, and resembles the months of October and November in the northern states of North America; but fires are never lighted to warm apartments. The same kind of dress is worn the year round, and cattle are never housed. The lofty regions are destitute of trees; the table lands only exhibit a stinted shrubbery, and a species of wire grass or rush, which grows where nothing else will vegetate, upon which the V1cunas and Guanacos feed. In the vallies and ravines of this tract of country, the climate is temperate and the soil fertile; these vallies and ravines are profusely watered by the torrents which roll down the mountains, and are well adapted to the production of luxuriant crops.

On the eastern side of the eastern range, the climate is uniformly warm; the seasons are divided in the same manner as in the former tract. There are here no frosts or snow, and all the varieties of the climate consist in the gradations of heat, and in humidity and dryness. On the west of the western range, or the

territory of the coast, it never rains; the moisture of the earth is. supplied from the torrents which descend from the mountains, and from dews. Chilly weather sometimes prevails, but the extremes of heat and cold are inconsiderable; thunder storms never occur, but earthquakes are not uncommon. There are some volcanic mountains in the eastern range of the Andes, but their visible fires have long since been extinct. The climate of Peru is highly salubrious. On the coast of the Pacific, fever and ague prevails in some places, but acute diseases are almost entirely unknown. The inhabitants who live a temperate life, attain generally to an advanced age. Peru has been called the country of old men. Among the animals peculiar to Peru, are four distinct kinds of sheep; the Llama, the Alpacha, the Guanaco, and the Vicuna. The Llama and Alpacha are domestic animals; the Llama is about the size of a stag, of different colours, white, brown, and black; it chews the cud like common sheep; its flesh is excellent food, equal to mutton-the wool long and coarse; it is used as a beast of burden, and can carry a load of 125 pounds, but it is slow in motion, having a lofty and majestic gait, carrying its head high in the air. It is mild and docile.

The Alpacha is a smaller animal than the Llama; its colour is white, black, and sometimes spotted; its flesh is not eaten, but its wool is very fine and useful. The Guanaco is still smaller than the Alpacha; its colour is usually red, resembling a dried rose in the sun; its wool is fine and valuable. This animal is wild, and frequents the most rude and inaccessible parts of the mountains, and is extremely fleet. The Vicuna is somewhat taller than the common English sheep, but with a smaller body; its colour is brown, with white belly and legs. This animal is

more vigorous in the elevated regions of the mountains, than in low and temperate situations; its wool is very fine. They are found in abundance on the high ranges of the Andes—are swift in their course, and very timid. They are usually seen in droves of many hundreds, among the clifts of the mountains.

The Chinchilla, a little animal about the size of a cat, produces valuable fur, not inferior to the Marten. The most remarkable bird of Peru, is the Condor, which is between three and four feet in height, and whose wings are at least fourteen feet from end to end; its colour is dark brown, with a white collar round its neck. This bird possesses great strength, and will run and fly with amazing swiftness.

Among the peculiar vegetable productions is Quinquina, or Peruvian bark. This important article in the Materia Medica, is found only in Peru and the adjacent territory of Colombia; there are several species of this bark-the pale, yellow, and red; the trees from which it is taken are slender and straight, rarely ex