contains 20,000 inhabitants, and is the great maritime emporium of the interior provinces. This low district of the coast is burnt up with excessive heat, and is exposed to all the evils of a tropical climate. The produce of New Grenada is various. Its mines, which are extremely rich, are of the greatest importance to its commerce. The provinces of Antioquia and Choco are alone richer in gold than any other, and the silver which they produce is also remarkably pure. Gold is collected in great quantities on the banks of various rivers. Lead and copper are found, though but little sought after; emeralds, and other precious stones, are sent to Europe. Platina, &c. is also produced, and mercury has been lately discovered to exist in the province of Antioquia, and also in the mountains of Quindiu, near the village of Cuenca. Salt is also found in great abundance. New Grenada produces, besides, excellent cotton, tobacco, cochineal, coffee, medical drugs, dyes of various sorts, and other articles of less importance. The secluded situation of great part of this country, amid the lofty peaks of the Andes, lays it under the necessity of manufacturing for itself many articles of domestic use which it would be difficult and expensive to transport from abroad, over the mountainous deserts which environ it on all sides. The trade with Europe must, of necessity, be limited, 1st, by the heavy expence of freight in the long voyage round Cape Horn, and afterwards along the whole west coast of South America, as far as the Equator; and, 2dly, by the still more tedious land voyage into the interior. The chief port of New Grenada is Carthagena, about 900 miles from Quito, and 700 from Popayan; a distance so great, as greatly to impede the transport of European goods, more especially in such a country. Guayaquil, then, is the chief port through which Quito and the surrounding districts send out their surplus produce for what they require at home. The great difficulty of transportation here arises from the passage across the mountainous and snowy deserts which separate those elevated regions from the low country. In many parts, the sides

of the Andes are beset with frightful crevices of immeasurable depth, which have to be crossed by pendulous bridges, formed of the fibres of equinoctial plants. Over these frail and tremulous passages the natives convey the traveller in a chair attached to their backs, and bending forward their body, they advance across with a swift step; but, when they reach the centre, the oscillation of the bridge is so great, that, were they to stop, inevitable destruction would ensue; the native and his burden would be dashed to the bottom of a precipice to whose profound depth the eye can hardly reach. These bridges being, from the nature of their materials, frequently out of repair, present to the shuddering European, who visits these countries, frightful chasms, over which the Indians step with undaunted confidence. Here is also the region of cataracts, some of which are truly magnificent. That of Tequendama dashes a volume of water, from the plains of Bogota, through an opening in the mountain, to the depth of 600 feet, into a dark and unfathomable gulf.

In many places, the travellers must wait for a favourable appearance of weather before entering on the everlasting snows of the mountains, for, if they were caught in a snow-storm, they would never again emerge from these deserts. There are, besides, no roads except for mules: in some places the traveller is carried across the defiles of the mountains on men's backs, there being no other mode of travelling; and the perils which occur in those wild regions are as numerous as they are new and unexpected, and frequently expose the unwary traveller to swift and inevitable destruction. The vast body of water which lies locked up in snow on the higher Andes may, by a sudden thaw, be let loose, and thus the moisture, which has been falling for months in an immense extent of country, suddenly pours down, in an irresistible deluge, upon the lower grounds. All the mountainstreams, which are the channels into which the whole accumulated moisture of the year may be suddenly poured, in its passage to the vallies, are liable, in a moment, to be swelled

into immense torrents, sweeping down from the mountains, in all the majesty of irresistible power, roaring and foaming between their steep and narrow banks, until they break out over the plains. When we reflect, for a moment, that the whole collected waters of a vast expanse of country are thus suddenly collected into one common channel, we may conceive the vast force of such a mass, suddenly precipitated from the mountains on the plains below. The passage of rivers, therefore, is one of the great obstacles to a free communication, in those countries, during the summer, for, in winter, they are insulated from the rest of the world. Various contrivances are adopted for securing a safe passage over these rivers. Where the stream is very narrow, with high banks, bridges are constructed of wood, consisting of four long beams laid close together over the precipice, and forming a path of about a yard and a half in breadth, being just sufficient for a man to pass over on horseback. Where the breadth of the river will not admit of any beam to be laid across, bridges are thrown over, constructed of a kind of thin elastic cane, twisted together, so as to form several large cables of the length required. These are placed together, with planks laid in a transverse direction, over the lower cables; and the two uppermost are fastened to the others, in the form of rails, for the security of the passengers, who would otherwise be in great danger from the oscillation. Mules and horses cross these rivers by swimming. Other rivers, again, whose rapidity, and the large stones continually rolling along them, render it impossible for animals to cross them in this manner, are provided with a rope, connected by two posts on both sides, along which the animal is swung to the opposite shore. Besides these obstacles, many parts of the road are entirely desert, and the traveller has to carry a large store of provisions, lest, by a sudden thaw, and swelling of the rivers, he should be prevented from either proceeding or returning. It will be at once perceived, that the transport of goods, if they are at all bulky, is scarcely practicable in such a country, and that its commerce

must therefore be confined to such articles of export to the lower country, on the sea-coast, whence is derived, in exchange, a supply of its produce. We have but very imperfect accounts of the commerce of Quito, Popayan, and these sequestered regions; and it may be doubted whether British manufactures have yet penetrated to this distant market. But if the country were settled under a free Government, the enterprise and industry of the people would soon be called forth, the roads would be improved, more practicable communications would be established with the surrounding districts and with the sea-coast, commerce and manufactures would advance, and the whole country would rapidly improve, by a freer intercourse with the world at large, from which it is at present separated, by the physical obstacles of its singular position.

To the south of New Grenada lies Peru, formerly larger, but diminished, in 1778, by the loss of Potosi, and several of its richest districts on the east, which were annexed to the viceroyalty of Buenos Ayres. It has Quito on the north, Chili on the south, on the west the Pacific Ocean, and on the east the vast and desert plains which, under the name of the Pampas, spread out from the Eastern Andes. It extends along the coast 375 miles, and eastward, into the interior, 690 miles. It is divided into seven intendancies, namely, Truxillo, Tarma, Guancavelica, Lima, Guamanga, Arequipa, and Cuzco. Peru is divided into the upper and lower country. There are two chains of the Andes which run along the country parallel with the coast and with each other. The one is the great central chain which rises above the limit of perpetual snow, and contains vast deserts, where everlasting winter reigns. The other ridge, which does not rise so high, is nearer the coast; it forms an inclined plane towards the coast, from 30 to 60 miles in breadth, and is called Lower Peru. It consists, for the most part, of sandy deserts, or of cultivated spots on the banks of navigable rivers, or such as are within the reach of artificial navigation. In this low track the climate is sultry. The chief towns in this track, which are situ

ated on the sea-coast, or on the banks of rivers, are

Piura, with 7000 inhabitants, 480 miles to the north of Lima, 208 north north-west of Truxillo.

Sechura, which contains 200 houses, in lat. 5° 32′ S.

Paita, a small place on the coast, consisting of mud houses. The bay of Paita is famous for its pearl fishery.

Sana, a small town, 80 miles north of Truxillo.

Morrope, consisting of 60 or 70 houses, 105 miles north-west of Truxillo.

Lambayeque, on the high road to Lima, in lon. 79° 56′ W., lat. 6° 40′ S., containing 8000 inhabitants, 95 miles west-north-west of Truxillo.

Truxillo, on the coast, 480 miles south of Quito, 268 miles northnorth-west of Lima, surrounded with a low brick wall, and containing 5800 inhabitants.

In Upper Peru, which consists of a valley between the two parallel ridges of the Andes, already mentioned, there are very productive silver mines, some of which are almost 2300 feet higher than the city of Quito. We have in this district the towns of

Tarma, 103 miles east-north-east of Lima, in lat. 11° 35' S. It contains 5600 inhabitants.

Guamalies, 150 miles east of Truxillo, and 240 north-east of Lima, noted for its manufactures of serges, baizes, and other stuffs. It is situated in a cold climate.

Guailas, 150 miles from Lima. Some gold is found in the mines of this district.

Caxatambo, 105 miles west of Lima, where baize is manufactured, and, in the neighbourhood, silver mines are wrought.

Conchucos, 120 miles north-east of Lima, also a manufacturing place, and containing, in its district, numerous silver mines.

Guancavelica has long been famous for the productive silver mines in its neighbourhood. It is 120 miles north-east from Lima. It stands in an elevated situation, 12,308 feet above the level of the sea, and is liable to storms of snow and hail. It has declined from its former importance, having been one of the richest cities

in South America, but now only containing 5000 inhabitants. The mines of quicksilver formerly produced 100,000 pounds of mercury annually. The bottom of the mine is 13,800 feet above the level of the sea.

Guamanga is 188 miles south-east of Lima. It contains 26,000 inhabitants, and is situated on a beautiful river. Its district contains 60 mines of gold, 102 of silver, and one of quicksilver.

Guanta, 20 miles north of Guamanga. Near it were formerly very rich mines, now abandoned. Southeast of Guamanga is the district of Vilcas Huaman, whence great quantities of woollens and manufactures are sent across the Andes to Cuzco. There are several other districts in this neighbourhood, situated amid the heights of the Andes, and abounding in mines of gold and silver. About 550 miles east-south-east of Lima is the city of Cuzco, containing 32,000 inhabitants, and adorned with various magnificent edifices. Its district contains nineteen mines of silver. North of Cuzco, 60 miles, is the town of Abancay, in a district of the same name, skirted with the snowy Andes. Among those mountains there are various other extensive districts, many of them cold and inhospitable, with warm and fertile valleys interspersed, and but thinly inhabited.

The commerce of Peru is carried on through three channels; namely, by the straits of Magellan, from Europe; through the North Pacific, from India and Mexico, or Guatimala; and through the interior, with the southern provinces of Chili and Buenos Ayres. Since the trade was unshackled, in 1778, its exports and imports have been doubled; and the principal branch of its commerce is that carried on round Cape Horn. Its exports are chiefly gold, silver, sugar, pimento, salt, Vucana wool, coarse woollens, and some trifling manufactures. Its imports are generally all sorts of European manufactures, which can be sold cheaper than the same articles can be manufactured at home. The produce of the country is carried, on the backs of mules, to Buenos Ayres, across the mountains, by the route of Arequipa and Cuzco. The chief ex

Germany, the most ingenious and perfect methods are in use, for bringing the ore safely, and at the least possible expence, through the ordeal of refinement. Formerly, it is well known, that nearly all the quicksilver employed in the operation was sacrificed. Now it is mostly preserved; and here, in this one article, is a great saving of expence. But not one of these improved methods are in use in the Peruvian mines. There is, in every department, the greatest possible waste, and in those which were formerly worked for the benefit of the King, or rather for his loss every species of gross malversation prevailed to a great degree. There was not only ignorance, but the most shameless and glaring corruption. In the royal quicksilver mine of Guancavelica, the King was charged 166p iastres for every hundredweight of quicksilver; which was about sixty-six piastres above what it really cost; and all the errors and unskilful operations in use were so obstinately adhered to, that when Mr Helms, the German miner, sent over by the King of Spain, to inquire into the management of the mines, proposed a new construction of furnaces, by which a smaller quantity of quicksilver would have been used in the process of extraction, he was opposed by the whole host of the miners, superintendants, and workmen, from the highest to the lowest; all joined against him, being artfully persuaded, that his contrivances would abridge manual labour, and, in the end, render their services unnecessary. The rich delegates, or judges, in the mining districts, are more especially represented by Helms as the greatest villains, who enrich themselves by plunder, and by continual acts of tyranny; while they have always numberless pretexts ready to screen themselves from any complaints made to the Viceroy against them. In many parts,

productive mines are overflowed, which might be drained by the use of proper inachinery. In other parts, where the ground is rich in metallic wealth, no skill or science is displayed in searching after the ore; but hosts of needy adventurers are collected, as if for mere plunder, who pierce the ground with innumerable holes, without order or regulation; so that they are frequently buried under ground, from the falling in of their pits; and these accidents are so common, from the carelessness and avidity with which they remove the earth, without providing the necessary supports for the mine, that they are little regarded. In the midst of this waste and confusion, much valuable ore is thrown away, and what is got is procured at a vast and disproportionate expence. There is great scope for reform in the working of these mines; and when the independence of the country is once opened, and the Supreme Congress has leisure, from the cares of war, to attend to domestic improvement, there is little doubt that this great staple branch of industry will be prosecuted with increased vigour and greater success. At present, all are united, in one general confederacy, against improvement, as they profit by the corruptions which they encourage. But when a new and more vigorous Government is once established, all those abuses will be inquired into, and brought to light; matters will soon be placed on a different basis; and the mining trade, like all other trades, will participate in the new impulse given, by an enlightened Government, to the country at large.

Peru contained, by the last census, 1,076,122 inhabitants, spread over a vast extent of territory, where there is, as in other parts of South America, a total want of roads, canals, or bridges, to facilitate the transport of goods between distant parts.