Natural curiosities.]-The natural curiosities are numerous and grand. The towering Andes, with their terrific voloanoes, may be ranked among the most sublime features of nature. The cataract of Bogota, in New Granada, is said to have a perpendicular fall of more than 400 yards, which, if true, surpasses every thing of the kind yet known in any other part of the world.* The interior of South America is yet very little known. Whenever it shall be more completely explored, its mountainous tracts will be found variegated with numerous scenes of sublimity, yet lost to scientific observation. Like the rest of the new continent, however, the countries now under consideration can boast no remains of antiquity. Few monuments of Peruvian art now exist to attest the former civilization and ingenuity of that people.a

*Bouguer, p. 91.

z [Among the natural curiosities of this part of the globe, the rapid retreat of the sea from the coast of Chili should not have been omitted. AM. ED.]

a [There are some monuments of antiquity in Peru. The road connecting the northern and southern provinces, 1200 miles in length, and the edifices, or tambos, of the Incas, still exist, though in ruins. AM, ED.]

CHAP. II.

Principal cities and towns....Edifices.....Islands,

THE HE capitals of the three vice-royalties, or grand divisions, are, Lima, Buenos Ayres, and Santa Fe de Bogato. Of these, however, Lima is deservedly esteemed the chief, and generally considered as the metropolis of the whole Spanish empire in South America. This city is situated about six miles from the sea, in the middle of a spacious and fertile plain, on the small river Rimac, which affords to the inhabitants a plentiful supply of water; but does not answer any purpose of navigation. The city is built on a regular plan,in the form of a parallelogram, extending about two miles in length, and one mile and a quarter in breadth. The streets are in general straight, but the houses are slightly built, as the equality of the climate, and the want of rain, render substantial buildings unnecessary; and the tremendous earthquakes which frequently happen, have proved them to be unsafe. Lima, however, contains several stately structures, especially churches and monasteries. The number of convents in this city is stated at not less than forty.* The churches are richly adorned with a profusion of gold and silver; and every thing displays the appearance of splendour and opulence. The commerce of Lima is extensive, and the merchants are rich. The population is computed at about 54,000.† Callao, on a bay of the sea, at the distance of little more than six miles from the city, is the port for Lima.

Of Santa Fe de Bogota, the capital of the vice-royalty of New Granada, very little is known, except that it stands on a

Ulloa's Voy. vol. 1. p. 429.

† Dr. Robertson's Hist. of Amer. vol. 2. p. 497. note 73.

river of the same name, which falls into the Magdalena, and is a place of considerable wealth and population.

Next to these capitals of the vice-royalties, the chief cities are Potosi, Quito, and Cuzco, in Peru. Potosi is grown rich and populous, through its neighbourhood to the mines, to which indeed it owes its origin. According to a late writer who had a good opportunity of being acquainted with the subject, this is the largest and most populous town in all South America, as he estimates the number of inhabitants at 100,000, a number far exceeding the population of Lima.* Quito is in this respect little inferior to Lima, being supposed to contain about 50,000 inhabitants. Being an inland city, and without any mines in its neighbourhood, its chief trade consists in its manufactures of various coarse articles of linen. cotton, and woollen, with which it supplies the home consumption of a great part of Peru. Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Peruvian monarchy, is in extent nearly equal to Lima: and its population is also considerable.t

The other principal cities, which may be considered as those of the third rank in the Spanish South American dominions, are Carthagena, which has an excellent harbour, strong fortifications, a flourishing trade, and about 25,000 inhabitants. Cuenz has a population of about 26,000. Guyaquil and Riobamba about 18,000 each. St. Jago de Chili is also a pleasant and elegant town of considerable extent and population.§ Panama was the point of commercial communication between the northern and southern colonies, and consequently between Peru and Spain; but this place, as well as Porto Bello, on the opposite side of the isthmus, will probably lose all its impor

b [Buenos Ayres, the capital of the viceroyalty of La Plata, should have been mentioned under this head. Its population is at present small, but is rapidly increasing. This city is of great commercial importance AM. ED.]

Helms, p 121 But Dr. Robertson only states the population of Potosi at about 25,000. Helms, however, had certainly better means of informing himself on the subject.

Ibid. p. 145.-Ulloa, liv. 7. ch. 12.

The three last are in Peru.

For a good description of St. Jago de Chili, see Com. Byron's Narrative.

tance through the establishment of a free trade between the mother country and the colonies, and the discontinuance of the annual fairs. Those countries do not appear to contain any remarkable edifices except such as are in the principal cities. Spain, as already observed, displays but few villas: it cannot therefore be expected that many should be found in the colonies.

Islands.—Most of the islands of any importance contiguous to the coast of South America, are claimed by Spain; but none of them are very considerable, and most of them are neglected. In a brief enumeration, beginning with those in the Pacific Ocean, it will suffice to mention the most considerable, and those that are the best known. The principal is that of Chiloe, in the bay of Chonos, being about 140 British miles in length, by about 50 in breadth.* In the Gulf of the Holy Trinity, is the island of St. Martin, on which are some Spanish settlements of little importance. The pleasant and healthful island of Juan Fernandez appears to be uninhabited: but it is famous for being some years the solitary abode of Alexander Selkirk, a Scotchman, who was wrecked on its coast, and whose singular adventure served, in the hands of Daniel De Foe, as the basis of the celebrated romance of Robinson Crusoe. It is celebrated in the voyage of Lord Anson, who found it an excellent place of refreshment for his men when suffering extremely from the scurvy.t Terra del Fue go, at the southern extremity of the South American conti. nent, is generally considered as one island, but is in reality an assemblage of no fewer than eleven, separated by narrow straits. The rigour of the climate has already been noticed. This miserable region is entirely left to the natives, who are of a middle stature, with broad flat faces, and use for clothing the skins of seals. Fish, especially shell-fish, appears to be their only food; and they live in villages, consisting of mise

The island of Chiloe is celebrated in Commodore Byron's Narrative as the first Spanish settlement that he and his companions reached after their fatiguing march through the wilds of South America.

† For the description of this charming island, and the relief which it afforded to the sickly crews, see Lord Anson's Voyage.

La Cruz's Map by Faden.

rable huts of a conical form. To the north-east of Terra del Fuego, and nearly opposite to the strait of Magellan, are Falkland islands, in 52° south latitude. These islands had been discovered by Sir Richard Hawkins so early as the year 1594. Being of little value, however, they were long neglected. But in 1764, Commodore Byron was sent to take possession of them in virtue of the British claim, and a small settlement was formed at a place called Port Egmont, of which the English were in 1770 dispossessed by the Spaniards; and the islands were soon after ceded to Spain.

To the south-east of Falkland islands is another island of considerable extent, discovered in 1675 by La Roche; and in 1775 named Georgia by Captain Cook. It may be described in a few words, by calling it the land of ice and snow. The shores, however, are frequented by penguins and seals; and the lark is not uncommon. Further to the south-east are other islands still more dreary, being the throne of perpetual winter. Of the few islands on the eastern coast of South America, that of Trinidada may be reckoned the chief. The next are those of Saremburg and Ferdinando Noronha. On the northern shore, the most celebrated is the French island of Cayenne.

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