Arequipa is a maritime city which has been six times destroyed, and as often rebuilt, and yet, previous to the late revolution, it was said to contain 40,000 inhabitants. The cause of its misfortunes is its vicinity to the vast volcano Omati, a central peak of a whole group of volcanoes.

Among the other towns worthy of note are Piura, with 7,000 inhabitants; Truxillo, which has suffered much from earthquakes, and has now a popula tion of about 5,800; Ica, or Valverde, with 6,000 inhabitants, and trading in glass, wine and brandy; Gumalies, where there are manufactures of serges, baizes and other stuffs, and also a silver mine; Guancavelica, noted for its quicksilver mines; and Guamanga, containing 26,000 inhabitants, situated on a beautiful river, in a district which has 60 mines of gold, 102 of silver, and one of quicksilver.

3. AGRICULTURE. Generally speaking, agriculture is in a wretched state. So languid and backward is it on the coast that Lima, and many other towns along shore depend on Chile for their provisions. This has been ever since the great earthquake of 1793, which was followed by such sterility of the valleys of Lower Peru that the people in many places ceased to cultivate them. The country has since in a measure recovered its fertility, but till some alteration is made in the mode of cultivation, and greater facilities of communication between the interior and coast are introduced, there is no hope of any great progress in agriculture.

4. COMMERCE. Peru trades with Europe, the East Indies, coastwise with Mexico, Guatemala and Chile, and over land with the provinces of Rio de la Plata, including Buenos Ayres, &c. Its exports are chiefly gold and silver, wine and brandy, sugar, jesuit's bark, salt, the fine wool of the vicunna, or sheep of the Andes, which is made into beautiful shawls, coarse woolens, and other manufactures of little value. It receives in return European goods, live stock, provisions, tallow, cacao, Paraguay tea, coca leaf, indigo, timber, cordage, pitch, copper, and iron. Its commerce ranges under three heads; that by land, with the Rio de la Plata provinces; that by sea with the other colonies; and that with Europe.

The official accounts of the Peruvian commerce for 1825 valued the total importations of that year at 15,541,750 francs. Owing to the diversity of the climate in the vice-royalty of Peru, all kinds of European manufac tured goods find a ready sale. Those from England are mostly preferred to any other.

5. INHABITANTS, &c. The Peruvians, like the other people of South America, are composed of various races, the most numerous being the Creoles, of European descent, and the Indians. The Indians are broken and debased, and seldom cheerful. There are many tribes. The Carapachas are said by Girval to rival the Circassians in beauty; but from the guttural sounds their speech is like the barking of dogs. The women of some tribes are said to be warlike. The Omaguas flatten the head, like some of the North American Indians. The Indians occupy the same place in society as in Mexico. They are idle, filthy, superstitious, and suspicious. Their dress and habitations are mean. Their capacities are very limited, and they have little variety of character. They are governed by native chiefs or caziques, and many laws are devised for their protection, which are not always executed. The gentlemen of Peru imitate the English fashions of dress; and the ladies also, except in a peculiar walking dress, composed of a close petticoat of satin, &c. with a short cloak of silk drawn round the waist and over the breast and head, half concealing the face. This is peculiar to Lima. The petticoat is elastic, and sets close enough to reveal the form. The hood, or manto, is probably a Moorish remnant. In the cities of Peru the houses are low, and built thus from a fear of earthquakes. The dwel

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lings of the Indians are mere huts, and generally architecture is in a much lower state than in Mexico. The roofs are flat, and the walls are often of wattled cane plaistered. The languages are the Spanish, and those of the Indians. The food does not essentially differ from that in the other South American states, and tobacco is as extensively used as in the rest of South America. There is little veal or lamb. Many sweetmeats are consumed. A fermented liquor, called chicha, is made of maize. The diseases are not peculiar. There are some goitres in the mountainous regions, but the Indians are exempted from them. To travel in Peru is a service of hardship and privation. The general way is to ride on horses or mules. There are few roads. The mule is invaluable from its cautious instinct, in passing the defiles or sides of the mountains, where a misstep would cast them to a measureless distance below. In many places where they cannot step, they protrude their feet, and slide downwards directing their course with the utmost sagacity. It is not safe for the rider to assume any guidance over them, when he is riding with one leg over a precipice while the other rubs against the side of a mountain. The Peruvians do not differ in character from the other South Americans. Hospitality with them has no limits, and like the others of European descent in South America, they are distinguished for their paternal and filial virtues. The creole ladies are good mothers and wives, and almost every family is a happy circle. Dancing, music, tertulias, bull fights, and cock fighting are the common amusements. The negro slaves receive kind treatment, and are instructed in the christian religion. It is common to see the white children thus instructing those of a household.

Education is little attended to; but more than under the old government. The ruling religion is the Roman Catholic. Besides the curates, there are many missionaries among the Indians. These were formerly Jesuits, but they are now Franciscans.

6. GOVERNMENT. The government is republican, and the form very similar to that of the United States. Since the revolt of the country from Spain the government has undergone many changes. The population is 1,600,000.

7. HISTORY. This country was conquered from the Incas, or aboriginal Sovereigns, in the 16th century by the Spaniards under Pizarro and Almagro. It remained in subjection to Spain for some time after the revolt of the other South American provinces. The independence of the country was declared in 1821.

CHAPTER XLIX. BOLIVIA.

1. BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT. Bolivia lies between 11° 54′ 46′′ and 25° 30 S. lat. and between 58° and 70° W. lon. It is bounded on the N. and W. by Peru; on the S. W. by the Pacific; on the S. by Chile and Buenos Ayres; and on the E. and N. E. by Brazil. Its length from N. N. E. to S. S. W. is about 1,140 miles. This republic was erected into an independent state by a declaration of the citizens, of the 5th of August, 1825, and named in honor of Bolivar. The district formerly belonged to Peru, but was detached from that country in 1778, and annexed to the vice-royalty of Buenos Ayres. 2. MOUNTAINS. The great chain of the Andes divides itself between the 14th and 20th degree of S. lat. into two longitudinal branches, which are separated from each other by a great valley, or plateau, 13,032 feet above the level of the sea, and whose northern extremity comprises the lake of Titica

ca.

The western chain separates the bed of that lake and the valley of Desaguadero from the coast of the South Sea, and presents a great number of active volcanoes. The eastern chain separates the plateau from the immense plain of Chiquitos and the Moxos. Many of its peaks surpass 20,000 feet in height. The summits of Sorata and Tlimani, covered with eternal snow, surpass all the gigantic peaks of Colombia. The Sorata is in the northern part of the eastern chain, and rises from the centre of a group of nevados, in 15° 30′ S. lat. Its height has been found to be 25,400 feet.

The majestic summit of Ilimani is situated in the Bolivian provinces of La Paz, and is the most southern snowy summit of the eastern branch of the Andes, to which it belongs. It has four peaks on its summit, arranged nearly from N. to S. The most northerly of these peaks has been found to be at an elevation of 24,000 feet above the level of the sea. Between the parallel of the Tlimani and the 21° of S. lat., the eastern cordilleras do not present a single summit which enters the limits of perpetual snow, though several rise to 16,000 feet.

3. RIVERS. The S. W. extremity of Bolivia is watered only by small riv ers, among which is the Loa. The Desaguadero, the principal tributary of the lake of Titicaca, rises in Bolivia. Of the other rivers we need only mention the Mamora, the Guapore, the Recomayo, the San Juan, and the Cachi

mayo.

4. LAKES. The famous lake of Titicaca is situated in the high upland tract that lies between the two ranges of the Andes, and is elevated several thousand feet above the level of the sea. Its form is very irregular. Its greatest length from N. W. to S. E. is 150 geographical miles, while its general breadth is hardly one third as much. It is navigated by the largest ships, but is subject to tremendous storms and gusts of wind. Ten or twelve large rivers, and a number of small streams fall into it. It has no visible outlet. Its water is turbid and disagreeable, but abounds in fish. The shores of the lake are populous, being thickly planted with villages. There are several islands in the lake, on the largest of which the Incas formerly had a mag nificent temple dedicated to the sun. The Indians have floating villages here, upon balzas, or rafts, in which they pass from place to place.

5. CLIMATE. The diversity of climates in this country is very great, owing to the inequality of the surface. The temperature of the western mountains and campos is very low; epidemic fevers are common in the northern districts.

6. SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS. The central portion of this country possesses the greatest agricultural capabilities: its soil and productions are similar to those of Peru.

7. MINES. The famous mine of Potosi now belongs to this state. The mountain in which it is situated is called Hatim Potocsi, or 'Father mountain.' This mountain is of a conical shape, 20 British miles in circumfer ence, and 4,475 feet in height, above the surrounding country. The mountain of Potosi principally consists of a yellow and very firm argillaceous schist, full of veins of ferruginous quartz, in which silver ore, and sometimes brittle vitreous ore are found interspersed. There is also a grayish brown ore in which appear some small grains and thin branches or veins of silver running along the layer of stone. This latter ore is very rich, yielding from 18 to 20 marks per caxon of 5,000 lbs. weight.

This wonderful mine was discovered in 1545, by a Peruvian named Hualpu, who, in pursuing some goats among the rocks, in his ascent, grasped a bush, whose roots giving way, disclosed to his view an immense vein of sil ver, which since his time has been denominated 'La Rica,' or 'The Rich.' For some time Hualpu concealed the discovery from all his friends, and only resorted to this treasure to supply his occasional wants.

The obvious

change in his fortune, however, had excited the suspicions of one of his Indian friends, who, with difficulty wrung from him the valuable secret; but who soon after, upon some quarrel with Hualpu, revealed it to his master, a Spaniard. No sooner was it made known, than the mine was opened; and it was formally registered on the 21st of April, 1545. Since that time, it has been constantly wrought. The mountain is now almost entirely excavated, and is perforated with more than 300 pits, few of which, however, are more than 70 yards deep. It is now opened at the base, and vaults, dug horizontally, penetrate into its interior, and meet the veins of silver. In these vaults the air is cold and unwholesome; and there the Indians, to the number of 2,000, work alternately day and night, for the small wages of 2s. daily, deprived of the light and heat of the sun, and entirely naked, to prevent them from embezzling any of the ore. On the first discovery of the mine of Potosi, the metal was much finer than at present. It is the abundance of the ore alone which renders it worth working.

What quantity of silver has been extracted from Potosi from 1545 to the beginning of the present century, it is impossible precisely to determine. Various estimates have been given by different authors of acknowledged celebrity. The table in the note is according to the most accurate computations. *

8. Face of the COUNTRY. The surface of Bolivia is unequal, now ris ing into chains of stupendous mountains, now stretching into immense plains. It is generally elevated.

*The following table will show the produce, registered and unregistered, of the mines of Potosi, down to 1803:

The most flourishing period of the mines of Potosi, during the period from 1556 to 1789, was that from 1585 to 1606 For several successive years, the royal fifth amounted to 1,500,000 dollars, which supposes a produce of 1,490,000 or 882,000 marks, according as we estimate the piastre at 134 or 8 reals, equivalent to 12,665,000 or 7,497,000 dollars. After 1606, the produce gradually diminished, especially since 1694. From 1606 to 1688, its annual produce was never below 350,000 marks, or 3,015,000 dollars. During the latter half of the 18th century, it generally supplied from 300,000 to 400,000 marks, an yearly produce this, too considerable to allow us to advance, with Robertson, that these mines are no longer worth working. They are not, indeed, the first in the known world, but they may still be ranked immediately after those of Guanaxuato, in Mexico. That they do not yield so much as formerly, is not at all owing to their exhaustion, but to the ignorance of the Spanish miners, by whose unskilful management most of the pits are allowed to remain full of water. Steam engines, the powers of which are so well understood in this country, are here wholly unknown. In the opinion of Helms, the mines of Potosi might easily be made, with moderate skill and management, to yield 20,000,000, or even 30,000,000 dollars annually. In addition to 2,000 Indians employed as miners, there are 15,000 glamas, and 15,000 mules, employed in carrying the ore from the mountain of Potosi to the amalgamation works.—Bell.

9. DIVISIONS. Bolivia is divided into 7 departments, viz.: Charcas, Cochabamba, Moxos, Chiquitos, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, La Paz, and Potosi. 10. Towns. Chuquisaca is the capital of the state. It is also called La Plata, and was formerly the capital of Los Charcas, an extensive province comprehending all the S. E. part of Peru. It is a neat, cheerful and respectable place, though not very populous. Lon. W. 66° 46', and 19° 30′ S. lat. Next in importance to Chuquisaca is Potosi, once the most populous and extensive of all the cities of South America. It is situated at the base of the celebrated mountain from which it takes its name. With its suburbs it once covered a vast extent of ground; but these suburbs are now in ruins and the whole population is reduced to 12,000. It stands in a bleak, barren and very mountainous district of the eastern chain of the Andes, in a glen watered by a branch of the Pilcomayo. The country around is barren beyond description, but the abundance of metallic produce in the vicinity amply compensates for the poverty of the soil. Provisions of all kinds are brought from a distance on mules and asses, to supply the wants of the population.

The climate of Potosi is very variable. Early in the morning it is cold and piercing; from noon to three o'clock the sun is exceedingly hot, while in the shade it is very cold; the evenings are serene, and sometimes of a summer mildness. In the opinion of Temple and other travellers, the climate is fine, wholesome and bracing. For five days out of six, Potosi enjoys a fine brilliant, unclouded atmosphere, a spotless canopy of the deepest and purest azure; and so dry is the atmosphere, that, in pulling off a flannel waistcoat or worsted stockings in the dark, sparks are distinctly seen. Snow and thunder storms are frequent, and the latter are sublime and terrific. As this city may be said literally to be above the clouds, the blue lightnings dart round in ten thousand dazzling flashes, and lose themselves in the ground; whilst the thunders roll from mountain to mountain in long continued peals, absolutely stunning to the senses, and baffling the powers of description. Dark clouds of the blackest hue, with brilliant mixtures of blue and green, beautify the scene of awful magnificence, whilst the storm rages and blazes in the valley beneath. The mountain itself rises above the town like a colossal sugar-loaf, of a reddish brown color, to the height of 2,370 feet. Though half an hour's walk distant, it seems so near that were it to fall over, to all appearance it would overwhelm the city.

Potosi at first sight appears very clean and handsome, as the outsides of all the houses are whitewashed. This however is mere deception, for with a few exceptions, their interior is very filthy. The Indians are well called swinish, and their superiors are not much better. The churches, once exceedingly rich, are now plundered, dismantled and deserted. The Mint, an uncouth pile erected in 1562, at the expense of two millions of dollars, still remains. On one side of the Plaza Mayor, or great square, is the government house, a long low range of buildings, and on the other stands a prodigious mass of gray granite, intended for the cathedral, but not yet finished. In the middle is a pile which Temple supposed to be a shot-manufactory, but which proved to be a national monument in honor of Bolivar. At the distance of eight or ten miles, are the lagunas, or ponds for supplying the Ingenios and the towns with water. They are 37 in number, and were constructed 200 years since at an enormous and needless expense. There is a considerable consumption of French and English manufactures in Potosi.

La Paz is a bishop's see, containing, besides the cathedral, 4 churches, 5 convents and 3 nunneries. In respect of situation, this place is one of the most remarkable in all South America. It lies in a ravine, so deep, narrow and steep that it is quite concealed from the view of the traveller, till he suddenly arrives at the very brink of this quebrada. Suppose yourself, says Tem