Name and Divisions. It is called Terra Firma, because it was the first part of the continent discovered by Columbus. It is divided into the provinces of Terra Firma proper, or Darien, Carthagena, St. Martha, Venezuela, Cumana, Paria, New-Granada, and Popayan. The province of Darien is a narrow isthmus that joins North and South America, but is generally reckoned a part of the latter. It lies in the form of a crescent about the great bay of Panama, in the South sea, and is 400 miles long. The breadth is usually called 60 miles from north to south, but it is only 37 miles broad from Porto Bello to Panama, the two chief towns of the province.

Bays and Rivers. On the shores of the Pacific ocean are the bays of Panama and St. Michael. In the North sea are Porto Bello, Sino, and Guiana.

The principal rivers are the Darien, Chagre, Santa Maria, Conception, and Oronoko. A particular description of the last has already been given.

Climate, Soil, and Productions. The climate here is extremely hot and sultry during the whole year. From the month of May to the end of November, the season called winter by the inhabitants, is almost a continued succession of thunder, rain, and tempests; the clouds precipitating the rain with such impetuosity, that the low lands exhibit theappearance of an ocean. Great part of this country is of consequence almost continually flooded; and this, together with the excessive heat, so impregnates the air with vapors, that, in many provinces, it is very unwholesome. The soil is very different, the inland parts being extremely rich and fertile, and the coast sandy and bar. ren. It is impossible to view, without admiration, the perpetual verdure of the woods, the luxuriance of the plains, and the towering height of the mountains. This country produces corn, sugar, tobacco, and fruits of all kinds.

The desert of Los Llamos, like the Sahara of Africa, is a prodigious tract of barrenness. For 2000 square leagues the level of the country does not differ five inches. No vegetation cheers this plain of sand; serpents and reptiles are the only inhabitants the traveller meets, for several days.

Chief Towns.

CARTHAGENA is the principal sea-port town in Terra Firma. It is situated on the Atlantic ocean,

in north latitude 10° 31'. The bay on which it stands is seven miles wide, from north to south; and so smooth, that ships are no more agitated than on a river. The town and its suburbs are fortified in the modern style. The streets are straight, broad, and well paved. The houses are principally brick, and one story high. This city is the residence of the governor of the province of Carthagena; and of a bishop, whose spiritual jurisdiction extends over the whole province. There is here also a

court of inquisition.

PANAMA is the capital of Terra Firma Proper, and is situated in north latitude 8° 45', upon a capacious bay to which it gives its name. It is the great receptacle of the vast quantities of gold and silver, and other rich merchandize, from all parts of Peru and Chili; here they are lodged in store-houses, till the proper season arrives to transport them to Europe.

PORTO BELLO is situated close to the sea, on the declivity of a mountain, which surrounds the whole harbour. The convenience and safety of this harbour is such, that Columbus, who first discovered it, gave it the name of Porto Bello, or the Fine Harbor, in north latitude 9° 33'.

PERU

LIES south of Terra Firma, and stretches along the shore of the Pacific ocean, 1800 miles. It is bounded south by Chili, east by the Andes, a grand natural limit, separating it from Amazonia. It lies between the equator and 25° south latitude, and spreads between 15° east and 6° west longitude, though its breadth is in no place more than 500 miles.

Divisions. Peru is divided into three provinces, Quito, Lima, and Los Charcos.

Rivers. The Amazon rises among the Andes in Peru; but directs its course eastward, through Amazonia. Most of the rivers of the Andes run into the Atlantic, and can hardly be considered as belonging to Peru. There are no streams of consequence in the whole extent of Peru, that fall into the Pacific ocean.

Climate. According to the local disposition of the country, its high or low situation, we find in Peru all the vari

eties of temperature, from the extreme of heat to that of cold. The plains are temperate, the beaches and vallies are hot, and the mountains are covered with eternal snow and ice, while their bowels are flaming with fire. In some parts of Peru, it never rains, which defect is supplied by a gentle dew, which falls every night. Other parts are visited by dreadful tempests, thunder and lightning.

Soil and Productions. The inland parts are fertile, but the sea coast is barren.

This country produces fruits peculiar to the climate, and most of those in Europe. The culture of maize, of pimento, and cotton, which was found established there, has not been neglected; and that of wheat, barley, cassava, potatoes, sugar, and of the olive and vine, is attended to.

Animals.

The most remarkable animals in this country are the Peruvian sheep, called llamas and vicunnas. The llama, in several particulars, resembles the camel, as in the shape of the neck, head, and some other parts; but has no bunch, is much smaller, and is cloven footed. Its upper lip is cleft, like that of a hare, through which, when enraged, it spits a venomous juice, that inflames the part on which it falls. The wool, with which it is covered, is of different colors, but generally brown. These animals are generally docile, so that the Indians use them as beasts of burden. Their flesh is esteemed preferable to mutton. The vicunna resembles the llama in shape, but is much smaller, and its wool shorter and finer.

Mines. Nature never offered to the avidity of mankind, in any country on the globe, such rich mines as those of Peru. There are several gold mines, but those of silver are found all over the country. Those of Potosi are the most celebrated.

Cities and Towns. The city of LIMA is the capital of Peru, and of the whole Spanish empire in South-America. It is seated in a delightful valley, two leagues from the sea; and is two miles long, and one broad. There are many magnificent edifices, particularly churches, in LiIt is said to contain 54,000 inhabitants, who are immensely rich. All travellers speak with amazement of the decorations of gold, silver, and precious stones, which load the walls of the churches.

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Cusco, the antient capital of the Peruvian empire, lies in a mountainous country, at a distance from the sea, and has long been on the decline, but is yet a very considerable place.

QUITO is next to Lima in population, if not superior to it. It is, like Cusco, an inland city.

CHILI

EXTENDS along the Pacific ocean, from the southern boundary of Peru, in latitude 24 degrees south, to the 45th degree, being 1460 miles. Its breadth is about 234 miles. Chili has Paraguay and Tucuman east, and Patagonia south. It contains 378,000 square miles. To this must be added Cuyo, or Cujo, east of the Andes, 406 miles long and 402 broad, containing 163,000 square miles.

Climate and Soil. The climate of Chili is one of the mcst delightful in the world, being a medium between the intense heat of the torrid, and the piercing cold of the frigid zones. There are few places in this extensive country where the soil is not exuberantly rich. Chili is the most opulent kingdom in America.

Animal and Vegetable Productions. The horses and mules of Chili are in great esteem. Oxen, sheep and goats are fattened in the luxuriant pastures. The coasts abound with many excellent fish; there are also vast numbers of whales and sea wolves.

The soil produces Indian and European corn, hemp, grapes, and all other fruits. The European fruit trees are obliged to be propped, to enable them to sustain the weight of the fruit. Orange trees are in bloom, and bear fruit throughout the year. The inhabitants press a kind of muscadine wine from the grapes, which far exceeds any thing of the kind made in Spain.

Mines. Mines of gold, silver, copper, tin, quicksilver, iron, and lead, abound in this country. Vast quantities of gold are washed down from the mountains by brooks and torrents; the annual amount of which, when manufactured, is estimated at no less than 800,000 dollars.

Population and Militia. In 1778, the number of white inhabitants in Chili was reckoned at 80,000; negroes 140,000; besides Aborigines, more numerous than both. This number has since much increased. The militia, in 1792, amounted to 15,856 men. Those Indians who are not subject to the Spanish yoke, are very honest in their commercial transactions; they live in small huts. They are brave and warlike, and all the attempts of the Spaniards to subdue them have proved ineffectual.

Towns. ST. JAGO, the capital of Chili, and the seat of government, is 90 miles from the ocean, and 21 from the Andes. It is a large, handsome place. It contained, in 1776, 46,000 inhabitants, which have since increased, and trades largely with Buenos Ayres. The inhabitants are said to be remarkably polite and hospitable. VALPARAIso, the port of St. Jago, is the most commercial city in Chili, lat. 33° 3' S. CONCEPTION is the second city in rank in Chili. It had 13,000 inhabitants in 1776.

VALDIVIA stands between the rivers Callacalles and Portero, where they fall into the South sea. It was built by the Spaniards in 1551, and is one of the largest cities in Chili.

The chief town in the province of Cuyo, is ST. JOHN DE FRONTIERA.

BUENOS AYRES

IS an inland country, bounded north by Amazonia, east by Brazil, south by Patagonia, and west by Chili and Peru. It extends from 12° to 37° S. lat. 1500 miles long, and 1000 broad. This extensive country has been called by various names. While attached to Peru, it was called the province of Charcas. It has since been called Paraguay, and La Plata, a name which it took from the river La Plata. At present the most common name is the viceroyalty of Buenos Ayres.

Divisions. It is divided into six provinces, Paraguay, Parana, Guira, Uragua, Tucuman, and Rio de la Plata. Rivers. The country is watered by innumerable streams and rivers, which form the grand river La Plata, already described.