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chandize, from all parts of Peru and Chili: here they are lodged in ftorehoufes, till the proper feafon arrives to transport them to Europe.

PORTO BELLO is fituated close to the fea, on the declivity of a mountain which furrounds the whole harbour. The convenience and fafety of this harbour is fuch, that Columbus, who first discovered it, gave it the name of Porto Bello, or the Fine Harbour.

Hiftory. This part of South America was discovered by Columbus, in his third voyage to this continent. It was fubdued and fettled by the Spaniards about the year 1514, after deftroying, with great inhumanity, feveral millions of the natives. This country was called Terra Firma, on account of its being the first part of the continent which was discovered, all the lands difcovered previous to this being islands.

Miles.

ER U.

Length 1800 Between
Breadth 500f

60° and 81° Weft Longitude.
The Equator and 25° South Latitude.

Boundaries.] ROUNDED north, by Terra Firma; eaft, by the Andes ; fouth, by Chili; weft, by the Pacific Ocean.

Rivers. A prodigious number of rivers rife in the Andes, and run through this country, among which are the Granada or Cagdalena, Orinoco and Amazon. The laft has its fource in Peru, and after running caftward upwards of 3000 miles, falls into the Atlantic ocean. This river, like all other tropical rivers, annually overflows its banks.

Climate, foil and productions.] Though Peru lies within the torrid zone, yet, having the Pacific ocean on the west, and the Andes on the east, the air is not fo fultry as is ufual in tropical countries. The sky is generally cloudy, fo that the inhabitants are fhielded from the direct rays of the fun; but what is extremely fingular, it never rains in Peru. This defect, however, is fufficiently fupplied by a foft and gentle dew, which falls every night on the ground, and fo refreshes the plants and grafs, as to produce in many places the greateft fertility. In the inland parts of Peru, and by the banks of the rivers, the foil is generally very fertile, but along the fea coaft it is a barren fand. The productions of this country are, Indian corn, wheat, balfam, fugar, wine, cotton-cattle, deer, poultry, parrots, wild fowls, lions, bears, monkeys, &c. Their sheep are large, and work as beafts of burden. Another extraordinary animal here is the vicunna, or Indian goat, in which is found the bezoar stone, celebrated for expelling poifons. The province of Quito abounds with cedar, cocoa, palm-trees, and the kinguenna, which affords the Peruvian or Jefuits bark; alfo the ftorax, guaiacum, and feveral other gums and drugs. Gold and filver mines are found in every province, but thofe of Potofi are the richeft. The mountain of Potofi alone, is faid to have yielded to the Spaniards,

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Spaniards, the firft forty years they were in poffeffion of it, two thousand. millions of pieces of eight.

Government.] Peru is governed by a viceroy, who is abfolute; but it being impoffible for him to fuperintend the whole extent of his government, he delegates a part of his authority to the feveral audiences and courts, established at different places throughout his dominions.

Chief Towns.] Lima, the capital of Peru, and refidence of the viceroy, is large, magnificent and populous; and for the fplendor of its inhabitants, the grandeur of its public feftivals, the extent of its commerce, and the delightfulness of its climate, is fuperior to all cities in South Ameri

ca.

Thefe eminent advantages are, however, confiderably overbalanced by the dreadful earthquakes which frequently happen here. In the year 1747 a moft tremendous earthquake laid three fourths of this city level with the ground, and entirely demolished Callao, the port town_belonging to it. Never was any deftruction more complete or terrible: but one, of 3,000 inhabitants, being left to record this dreadful calamity, and he by a providence the moft fingular and extraordinary imaginable.

Lima contains 60,000 inhabitants, of whom the whites amount to a fixth part.

All travellers fpeak with amazement of the decoration of the churches with gold, filver and precious ftones, which load and ornament even the walls. Quito is next to Lima in populoufnefs.

Hiftory. The Spaniards firft vifited Peru in 1526. Pizarro, with an army of about 160 men, after a feries of treacherous and cruel acts, made a conqueft of the whole country, for the king of Spain, in 1533, to whom it has ever fince been fubject. The natives have frequently attempted to regain their liberty, but have hitherto been unfuccefsful. Some late infurrections have happened, but the confequences are not yet particularly known.

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Miles.
Length 1200

Breadth 500

CHIL I.

Between 5 and 850 Weft Longitude.
25° and 45° South Latitude.
85°

Boundaries.] BOUNDED north, by Peru; Eaft, by La Plata; fouth,

by Patagonia; weft, by the Pacific ocean.

Climate, foil and productions.] The air of Chili, though in a hot climate, is remarkably temperate, occafioned by the refreshing breezes from the fea, and the cool winds from the top of the Andes, which are covered with eternal fnows. This country is free from lightning, and although thunder is frequently heard, it is far up in the mountain. Spring begins here about the middle of Auguft, and continues till November. It is fummer from November till February. Autumn continues till May; and winter till Auguft. It rarely fnows in the vallies, though the mountains are always covered. This country is entirely free from all kinds

of ravenous beafts, poisonous animals and vermin; not even fo much as a fly is to be found here. The foil is extremely fertile, being watered with numberless little rivulets from the mountains. It produces, in the greateft abundance, apples, pears, plums, peaches, quinces, apricots, almonds, olives, grapes, cocoa-nuts, figs, and ftrawberries as large as pears,-wheat, oats, corn, garden flowers and fruits of almost every kind. At abounds in gold, filver and lead mines, and the rivers themselves roll on golden fands. But their staple commodity is cattle; they have them in fuch abundance, as frequently to caft the flesh into the rivers, referv. ing the hides, tallow and tongues for exportation.

Hiftory, inhabitants, &c.] The Spaniards made feveral attempts to reduce this country, but with no great fuccefs till the year 1541, when they built the capital St. Jago, now the refidence of the Spanish gover nor, and a bishop's fee; and afterwards Coquimbo, Conception, and Baldivia. The natives are remarkable for wit, fortitude and patience; and the Spaniards to this day have never been able to fubdue them; they continue till mafters of part of the inland country. There have lately been fome formidable infurrections against the Spaniards by the natives, which have greatly alarmed the Spanish court.

PARAGUA, OR LA PLATA.

Miles.

12° and 37° South Latitude.

Length 1500 Between {50° and 150 Weft Longitude.

Breadth 1000

Boundaries.] BOUNDED north, by Amazonia; caft, by Brazil; south, by Patagonia; weft by Peru and Chili.

Rivers and Mountains.] This country, befides an infinite number of fmall rivers, is watered by three principal ones, which united near the fea, form the famous Rio de la Plata, or Plate river, and which annually overflow their banks, and, on their recefs, leave them enriched with a slime, that produces great plenty of whatever is committed to it. This river, where it unites with the ocean, is 150 miles broad. At 100 miles from its mouth, a fhip in the middle of the channel, cannot be feen from either fhore; and at Buenos Ayres, 100 miles ftill further back, one cannot difcern the oppofite fhore. There are no mountains of confequence here excepting that remarkable chain which divides South America, called the Andes. The height of Chimborazo, the most elevated point in these mountains is 20,280 feet, which is above sooo feet higher than any

other mountains in the known world.

Climate, Soil and Produce.] This country confifts of extenfive plains, 300 leagues over, except on the eaft, where it is feparated by high mountains from Brazil. La Plata is a most desirable climate, and one of the most fruitful countries in the world. The cotton and tobacco producedhere, with the herb called Paragua, which is peculiar to this country, would alone be fufficient to form a flourishing commerce. There are here alfo feveral gold and Gilver mines.

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Chief

Chief Towns.] BUENOS AYRES, the capital of La Plata, is the most confiderable fea port town in South America. It is fituated on the fouth fide of the river La Plata, 200 miles from the mouth of it. The river is upwards of 20 miles broad at this place. From this town a great part of the treasure of Chili and Peru is exported to Old Spain. The natives of Tacuman are faid to have wooden houfes built on wheels, which they draw from place to place as occafion requires.

Hiftory and Religion.] The Spaniards firft difcovered this country in the year 1515, and founded the town of Buenos Ayres in 1535. Most of the country is ftill inhabited by the native Americans. The Jefuits have been indefatigable in their endeavours to convert the Indians to the belief of their religion, and to introduce among them the arts of civilized life, and have met with furprizing fuccefs. It is faid that above 340,000 families, feveral years ago, were fubject to the Jefuits, living in obedience and an awe, bordering on adoration, yet procured without any violence or conftraint. In 1767, the Jefuits were fent out of America, by royal authority, and their subjects were put upon the fame footing with the refl of the country.

BRAZIL, belonging to PORTUGAL.

Miles.

Breadth 2500 Between {15 aquato Wet Longitude

The Equator and 35° South Latitude.

Boundaries.] BOUNDED north, by the mouth of the river Amazon Atlantic Ocean caft, by the fame ocean;

fouth, by the mouth of the river La Plata; weft, by a chain of mountains, which divides it from Paragua, and the country of the Amazons.

Air, Soil and Produce.] The air of this country is hot, but healthy, and the foil exceedingly fertile in maize, millet, rice, fruits, faffron, balfam of capivi, ginger, indigo, amber, rofin, train oil, cotton, the best of tobacco, fine fugar, brazil-wood, &c. Here alfo are mines of gold, filver and diamonds, and a great quantity of excellent cryftal and jafper. This country alfo abounds in cattle, apes, parrots, and beautiful birds. The rivers and lakes are ftored with fish, and there is a whale fishery on the coaft.

Inhabitants, Religion, &c.] The coaft of this large country is only known; the natives fill poffefs the inland parts; whereof those towards the north are called Tapayers, and thofe in the fouth Tupinamboys. Thefe natives feem to have little religion, and no temple or place for public worfhip; but yet are faid to believe a future fate, and have fome notion of rewards and punishments after this life.

Hiftory, &c.] The Portuguese difcovered this country in the year 1500, but did not plant it till the year 1549, when they took poffeffion of All Saint Bay, and built the city of St. Salvador, which is now the refidence

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of the viceroy and archbishop. The Dutch invaded Brazil in 1623, and fubdued the northern provinces; but the Portuguese agreed, in 1661, to pay the Dutch eight tons of gold, to relinquifh their intereft in this country, which was accepted, and the Portuguese remained in peaceable poffeffion of all Brazil till about the end of 1762, when the Spanish governor of Buenos Ayres, hearing of a war between Portugal and Spain, took, after a month's fiege, the Portuguese frontier fortrefs, called St. Sacrament; but by the treaty of peace it was restored.

GUIANA, belonging to the French and Dutch,

S divided into Cayenne, which belongs to the French, and into Surinam, which is a Dutch province.

Cayenne extends 240 miles along the coaft of Guiana, and near 300 within land. It is bounded north, by Surinam; eaft, by the Atlantic; fouth, by Amazonia; weft by Guiana. All the coaft very low, but within land there are fine hills, very proper for fettlements. The commodities are fimilar to those of the West India Islands.

Surinam is one of the richest and most valuable colonies belonging to the United Provinces. The chief trade of Surinam confifts in fugar, cotton, coffee of an excellent kind, tobacco, flax, fkins, and fome valuable dying drugs. They trade with the United States, of whom they receive horfes, live cattle, and provifions, and give in exchange large quantities of molaffes. The Torporific eel is found in the rivers of Guiana, which, when touched either by the hand, or by a rod of iron, gold, copper, or by a ftick of fome particular kinds of heavy wood, communicates a fhock perfectly like that of electricity. There is an immenfe number and variety of fnakes in this country, and which form one of its principal inconve niencies.

AMAZONIA.

Length 1200- -Breadth 960 miles.

Boundaries.] BOUNDED north, by Terra Firma and Guiana; eaft,

and weft, by Peru.

by the Atlantic Ocean and Brazil; fouth, by La Plata;

Rivers.] From the discoveries of Orellana, and others made fince his time, it appears that the Amazon is one of the largest rivers in the world. It runs a courfe from west to east of about 3000 miles, and receives near 200 other rivers, many of which have a courfe of 5 or 600 leagues, and fome of them not inferior to the Danube or the Nile. The breadth of this river at its mouth, where it discharges itself by several channels into

the

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