ani, unites with the Challana which rises in the same chain of mountains, and assumes the name of Beni; here it loses its rapidity, and flows with a smooth and even current towards the coast. The river Beni, after a course of several hundred miles, in a northeasterly direction, unites with the Madeira, and these united waters constitute the great southern branch of the Amazon. The capital of this department is the city of La Paz, situated in lat. 16° 30′ south, 180 miles east of the Pacific. It lies in a hollow, considerably below the elevation of the plains which extend from the eastern Andes to the lake, and is divided by the river Chookeago, which is a branch of the river Tipuani. There are four stone bridges across the river; the streets are rectangular and well paved, and the houses are principally built of stone, of two and three stories high, many of them exhibiting much taste and elegance in their structure. In the public square there are some splendid edifices; in the centre, stands a fountain of water, constructed of transparent alabaster. There are four convents, three nunneries, five parochial churches, a college and an alms-house, where the poor are entertained. The city stands at the base of the peak of Ilimani, which overlooks it, and whose snowy summit and verdant sides exhibit a splendid view. The plains which surround the city are clothed in perpetual vendure, and are very fertile, supplying it with all kinds of vegetables. The population of the city is 40,000.

The department of Santa Cruz or Puno, which has a population of 10,000, is well watered by the Rio Grande and other head waters of the Mamore, a branch of the Amazon. It is divided into two provinces, Misque and Santa Cruz, from which the department takes its name. The province of Misque is comprised in its western section, enjoying a warm climate. The chief town, which is of the same name, stands in a fine valley, of twenty-four miles in circumference, with a population of 12,000. This is an extremely fertile province, producing, in great abundance, corn, sugar, grapes, bees wax, and honey. The province of Santa Cruz is situated east of Misque. The chief town is of the same name, and is the capital, situated in lat. 17° 49′ south, at the foot of a small range of mountains. The productions of this province are the same as those of Misque, but cultivation is more neglected; there are no mines in the district.

Moxos and Chiquitos are departments of great extent of territory, but have only a small population. Moxos extends from north to south 360 miles, and nearly the same distance east and west. It is watered by three rivers, Beni, Mamore, and Santa Cruz, which, rising in the eastern Andes, flow into the Amazon. Chiquitos lies southeast of Moxos, east of Santa Cruz, and west of the river Paraguay, and is a country of great extent, but thinly

settled. The territory of Moxos and Chiquitos extend from lat. 140 to 200 south, embracing an extensive and fertile tract of country mostly in a state of nature, and without cultivation, but possessing immense natural resources, and capable of sustaining a vast population in affluence. The climate of these intendancies is like the East Indies, with half yearly alternations of rainy and dry seasons; the productions also are similar; cinnamon is produced in abundance. The rivers and lakes abound with fish; honey is also collected in great quantities in the forests. The silk worm abounds, and the mulberry, on which it feeds, is a common tree of the country. The intendancies or departments are divided into provinces, and the latter into curacies or parishes, like Peru, in each of which there is a curate, a cacique, and an alcade.

The territories of the new republic of Bolivar, are an interior country, embracing only about three degrees of coast on the Pacific; yet no portion of South America possesses a more salubrious climate, or more exuberant soil, variety of productions, or inexhaustible mineral treasures. Although its territory is not so extensive as some of the other republics, and is almost without sea coast; yet so abundant are the resources of the soil and mines, that it is capable of sustaining a large population, and of becoming a wealthy and prosperous republic. A free and stable government, with just and liberal institutions, securing to all classes of people their rights, protecting and encouraging their industry, and diffusing among them the light of knowledge, by means of education, is all that is necessary to insure prosperity to this country. Its population has been estimated at 1,740,000, considerably exceeding that of Peru; its character is similar, but perhaps more hardy and industrious. There are more Indians, Mestizos, and Cholos; but fewer Negroes and Mulattoes than in Peru. The Indians alone amount to 1,155,000. They are sober and honest, and have the most persevering habits of industry; they make good agriculturists and labourers of every kind, and are robust, muscular, and free from diseases. They perform all the heavy work of the country, without the aid of machinery, carrying on their shoulders 150 pounds. The Mestizos and Cholos usually possess moderate fortunes; they carry on most of the internal commerce of the country, and superintend the Haciendas or plantations of the men of fortune. They are expert mechanics, and

have astonishing faculties of imitation.*

* In 1801, a Swede, with a company of equestrian performers, arrived at Lima, and after obtaining permission of the king, proceeded into the interior to Cusco, and exhibited their performances to the delight and astonishment of the inhabitants. The young Cholos soon began to imitate the feats they had witnessed, and with such success, that in a short time they VOL. II.

14

The vegetable productions of the republic are similar to Peru, comprising those of both temperate and tropical climates, all in the greatest abundance, and almost spontaneously. Among those more rare or peculiar to the country, are cinnamon, the potato, which is believed to be indigenous in this region; oka, a sweet root and an important article of food; quinoa, or Peruvian rice, much used as a grain for food, and from which, together with Indian corn, a liquor is made, called chica, of universal use among the Indians; agi, or Guinea pepper; coca, a bitter herb, which constitutes the tobacco of the Indians, and is extensively used; quinquina or Peruvian bark, vanilla and ginger. The forests abound with various gums, resins, and balsams, and the mountains with common epsom and glauber salts, nitre, green vitriol, native soda, and numerous other mineral substances.

The Llama and other animals mentioned in Peru, are common in this country; the cochineal insect is reared with greater facility than in Mexico. A large proportion of the products from the mines exported from Peru, has been from the territories of this republic. From 150 to 230 south latitude, there are twenty-two silver and eleven gold mines, which have been worked, besides gold washings found in the river Tipuani and its numerous branches. The precious metals extracted from these mines have been estimated at 14,000,000 dollars annually; and the coin and bullion exported, at 8,240,000. Gold is found every where on the banks of the Tipuani by digging a sufficient depth, and finer in its native state by a carat and a half than the gold coin of the United States. The gold is found mixed with a hard blue clay, which is taken out together, and the clay separated by washing in canals prepared for the purpose. The annual product of the river Tipuani has been 35,200 ounces, worth 16 dollars per ounce.

The commerce of this country is almost entirely inland; it has maintained an extensive interior trade with Peru and Buenos Ayres; the former has been estimated at nearly 7,000,000 dollars, and the goods received from the latter, at 18,000,000 dollars, previous to the revolution, part of which must have been consumed in Lower Peru. Foreign goods have been introduced either through Lima or Buenos Ayres. The Spaniards and Creoles hitherto have been almost the only consumers of foreign goods, as the Indians and mixed races have used the manufactures of the country, consisting of coarse cottons and baizes, the king having prohibited the fulling and dressing of cloths. The consumption of foreign goods must now increase rapidly and to a very great extent, as the freedom of the Indians and Mestizos

could perform all the feats of the equestrians, who, with astonishment, viewed the streets filled with performers, which obliged them to abandon their enterprise.

will cause them to imitate the manners and style of the whites. The churches, monasteries, nunneries, and convents in this republic are numerous, and have amassed wealth to an extent almost incredible, even in a country abounding in the precious metals. All the vessels and chandeliers of the churches are of silver or gold, and the altars and even the pulpits are often covered with silver; but the greatest wealth is hoarded in the nunneries and monasteries. Don Vincente Pozos says that he saw in a nunnery in La Paz, two boxes, each of four feet and a half long, and two feet broad, filled with doubloons. The republic, in August, 1825, by its representations, declared its independence, not only of Spain, but of both Lower Peru and the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata, and took the name of BOLIVAR, from the hero of that name, who liberated it from the dominion of Spain. It has, at present, only a provisional government, not having yet adopted a constitution. General Sucre was appointed by the congress captain-general of the republic, and commander of the military force; the departments are under the government of an officer called a president.

HISTORY

OF THE REVOLUTION

IN THE

REPUBLIC OF BOLIVAR.

CHAPTER XI.

Revolution breaks out in La Paz-a government is established— the patriots are attacked by the royalists, dispersed, and the city sacked-Buenos Ayres sends an army to Peru; it is at first successful, but finally defeated, and Peru lost-the revolution breaks out again-Cochabamba is sacked, and its inhabitants massacred-retaken by the patriots-the royalists drive the patriots from La Paz, covering it with desolation-an army of Buenos Ayres again advances into Peru-it is defeated at Sipesipe-the war kept up by several guerrilla leaders-the country emanci pated by the victory of Ayacucho-Sucre proceeds to Upper Peru, and all the royal troops surrender-Chiquitos invaded by the Brazilians a congress convened, which declares the country independent, and passes several decrees.

THE seven intendancies, now departments, composing the Bolivarian republic, belonged to the viceroyal jurisdiction of Peru, until 1778, when they were annexed to the viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata. They were not, however, embraced in the jurisdiction of the royal audience of Lima, but constituted a distinct jurisdiction, called the district or audiencia of Charcas, and the city of that name was the seat of government of the royal audiencia. This country suffered severely during the rebellion of Tupac Amaru, in 1780, many of its cities being almost desolated, and one third of its whole population destroyed by the war.

It has also poured its blood prodigally in the late revolutionary struggles, and has experienced the singular ill fortune of having the first and the last scenes of the bloody drama exhibited within