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The Physical Geography of Peru.

eaftern branches of the Cordillera of them are covered with a fhow as ancient

the Andes is terminated. Thus its greatest extenfion, which is to be meafured in degrees of latitude, embraces a fpace of twenty-three degrees and an half, between Cape Palmar on the confines of Pafto, and Morro-Moreno on thofe of the kingdom of Chile. Chofen to be the throne of light in the fouthern hemifphere, it fpreads precifely over the whole of the space which the fun declines from the centre of the fphere, to animate it by its benign influence. Its breadth, which we shall place between 297 and 310 degrees of longitude, the first meridian being fixed at the Peak of Tene iffe, varies according as the coafts are at a greater or fmaller diftance from the Cordillera or chain of mountains. From the line to the eighth degree there is a Separation of about one hundred and twenty leagues; but from hence, infenfibly as it were, gaining ground, its greateft diftance to the eighteenth degree is reduced to feventy leagues only. By chusing a middle term between these two extremes, and allowing twenty leagues to the degree, the refult gives to Peru a plane fuperficies of 44.650 fquare leagues *.

The whole of this vaft fuperficies ferves as a bafis to the great Cordillera of the Andes, which, feparating majestically beneath the equator, and dividing itself into two branches, the one eastern and the other western, parallel to each other, and for the greater part to the southern coafts, proceeds on to the tropic of Capricorn. In its way, the eastern branch takes a bend towards the fouth eaft, and terminates in the plains. The western one penetrates into the kingdom of Chile. The highest points of each of

*The limits which we afcribe to Peru, and which are deduced from the contemplation of the equinoxes, the folftices, and the varieties of the foil and climates, agree with thofe aftablished by the political demarcations executed by the Yncas, as we shall explain more fully when we fhall proceed to treat of them.

To elucidate this fubject as much as poffible, it is proper in this place to state that the part of South America comprehended between the equator and the tropic of Capricorn is divided, north and fouth, by three Cordilleras, or chains of mountains. First, that of Brafil, which, commencing about the equinoctial line, rnns to the Sierras or mountains of Maldonado, in the river of LaPlata. Secondly, the eaftern one of Peru, which, originating in the fnow-clad mountains of Santa Martha, on the confines of

as the world; and their volcanoes, which vomit forth a perpetual fire in the region of froft and cold, prefent a terrific spectacle to the philofopher who contemplates them.

If the worth of countries were to be eftimated by the greater or less extenfion they afford to population and to agriculture, the Royal Cordillera would diminifh the value and eftimation of Peru, fince its eminences and declivities, far from augmenting the proportion of cultivable land which would be found at the bafes of this chain of mountains, diminifh them extremely : but, in return,

the northern fea, runs, as has been faid, towards the Tropic, from whence it takes an inclined direction towards the fouth east, and terminates in the plains of the great Chaco. Thirdly, the western one, which proceeds from North America, pafies the isthmus of fouthern coaft to Cape Horn. Between the northern fea and the firft Cordillera liesBrazil; between the first and fecond lie the great and lofty plains of the country of the Amazons; and in the line in which thefe plains terminate, the fecond Cordillera commences, as does alfo Peru, which is comprehended within this one and the third. The ancient Yncas gave to each of them the name of Ritifuyu, which fignifies a band of fnow: and as the four cardinal points, which they called Tavantinfuyu, were denoted by the fubjugated nations the Antis, which is to the east of Cuzco, which they viewed towards them, that of gave the name as well to the mountains which defcend from the fecond Cordillera into the plains, as to this fame Cordillera which precedes them.-We ftill preferve thefe titles, having corrupted the word Antis, into Andes, and afterwards applied the fame term to the fouth Cordillera. We fay that both thefe Cordilleras lie beneath the equator, fince, notwithstanding in the province of Popayan they are already divided and parallel, their mountains are fo low that at two degrees to the north they have not the fourth part of the elevation of thofe of the fouth. Hence it is that the climate is very different from that of high Peru.

Panama, and redoubles the whole of the

Taking it for granted that, in confequence of the parched and dry ftate of the declivities of the fouthern mountains, and of the infalubrity of the fummits of the Cordillera, it would be impoflible to people and cultivate them, we can venture to affert that, even if it were practicable to execute both, the curvatures, declivities, and bellows of the mountains would not add one handful of useful foil to that which their bafes would afford, if they did not exift. This propofition, paradoxical as it may appear, is an inconteftible truth, fince all the trees which are planted on the convex fuperficies

Peru....From the Peruvian Mercury.

it affords other advantages which are not only able to keep up the balance, but alfo to give a preponderance to the fide of the territory. For the architecture of this Cordillera appears to be altogether diftin&t from that which nature difplays in the organization of the reit of the globe; or, rather, it is its defign and completion. Divided into two parts, it compoles as many worlds, the one high, the other low, in which, as has already been faid, is united whatever diftinguishes Africa from Añia, and both of these conjointly from Europe.

The high world occupies the ground which feparates the two above mentioned chains of mountains, whofe fummits are diftant from each other, ten, twenty, and, in fome instances, fifty leagues; it indeed happens that in fome places they meet and unite, by the interpolition of a third Cordillera which runs eat and weft. Such are thofe of Afuay and Moxanda in the kingdom of Quito*, notwithstanding their foil, covered with verdure and foliage, is interrupted by innumerable Heaths and deep clefts. They can alone be described by the words of a philofopher who had occafion to examine them. in afcending, fays he, the rude and terrific mountains which look towards the fouth fea, it cannot poffibly occur to the human mind, that on their shoulders others of equal magnitude bould rife, and that all of them found ferve to fhelter, in their common bofom, that happy country where nature, in her moft bountiful moed, or rather, in her pro digality, has painted the image of terreftrial paradife +.

The low world is fituated, the chain of mountains being interpofed, between the western branch and the ocean, which are diftant from each other from ten to twenty leagues. It consists of a multitude of

fuperficies of a mountain have to ftand perpendicularly to the horizon, and must confequently have, on the horizontal base, as many points of correfpondence and fupport as they occupy in the mountain. It refults from hence, that, the space which the plane affords being already filled up, nothing more can be planted or fown in all the unequal furfaces of the mountain by which it is occupied. It is equally demonftrable that a mountainous territory can contain no more houfes or inhabitants than the bafe it occupies, fuppofing it levelled.

Father Amrich, in his complete hiftory, in manufcript, of the miffions to the Andes mountains, afferts, that there is another of thefe junctions in the province of Jaen de Bracamoros.

Bouguer, figure de la Terre, p. 31. MONTHLY MAG. No. XXVIII.

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floping plains, which, defcending from this branch, from the line to Tumbes, terminate in immenie forefts, and advance from hence towards the borders of the ocean, as if with a defign to limit its empire. The above plains are feparated from each other by vallies, which, originating at the coaft of the ocean with a breadth of from three to eight leagues, take an eastern direction, being bounded on the north and on the fouth by a feries of hills, which, augmenting in propor tion as they enter Sierra, divide the western chain, occafionally crofs the subfequent space, interfect the eastern chain, and terminate in the plains of the country of the Amazons, preferving a great refemblance to their origin.*

By this defcription it would appear, that the true 'direction of the Peruvian Alps is by no means north and south, as has been afferted, and that those who, upon this ground, have fancied they could overturn, by a fingle effort, the iyitems of Copernicus and Newton, have not paid a fufficient attention to this fubject. Formed of an infinite feries of high mountains, which run west and· caft, or in a contrary direction, between the South fea and the country of the Amazons, and rifing to a prodigious height in the middle of their career, they

it appears that Peru is no other than two
* By the description we have just given,
Cordilleras, which, by the declivities that
unite them, form Sierra, and one of which,
by its oppofite fides, compofes the mountains
of the Andes, while the other, in a fimilar
way, compofes the coaft. If the divifion of Peru
be to be taken from the direction of the fum
mits of the mountains, by which, according
to the idea of Don Ulloa, in his American
lower worlds, the mountains belong excly-
Notices, it is feparated into the higher and
fively to this plan of divifion. But if the
diftinctive characteristics be to be drawn from
the qualities of the foil and climate, Peru
fhould be divided into three parts, as has
been done by Father Acofta, in his Natural
History, page 175. Thefe divifions are as
follow: ft. The mountains of the Andes.
2d. La Sierra. And 3d. The coast, or plains.
Characteristics of the first; conftant rain, every
where mountaincus, the temperature warm.
the fecond, regular feafons, meteors. Of the
third, dryness, the temple of the Spring. Since
the principal aim of divifions confifts of order
and perfpicuity in the fubject matter treated
of, we shall endeavour to preserve both, by
adopting the first divifion; and although, in
defcribing the low world, we have confined
ourfelves to the bare mention of the coaft
we fall, on a future opportunity, enter in
to a particular examination of the correfpond
ing fections
R
unite,

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Of

120

Peru-The Virginian Opoffum.

unite, and appear to the view to take a third courfet. The delightful world we are about to sketch, would be obfcured by the imperfect defcriptions of our pen, if it had not been illuftrated by the divineft post of the age, to whofe fublime genius the talk was relerved.

Felices nimium populi, queis prodiga tellus Fundit opes ad vota fuas, queis contigit ftas

mula veris, Hyems fine frigore, nubibus aer Ufque carens, nulloque folum foecundius imbre. *

Certain philofophers have undertaken to erect to nature a temple worthy of her immentity--a temple in which, her productions being depofited, the bodies of all animated beings fhould be collected in the centre; and that in this tomb of corpies death fhould appear, to give life and vigour to art. Peru is her auguft temple, in which, without the neceffity of the feeble decorations of the chifel and the pencil, without the neceflity of viewing her fenfible creatures humbled in the

In the hypothefis of the motion of the earth and univerfal gravitation, the centri

fugal force, augmented beneath the equator, fhould, to produce the mountains of the Andes, have given them a direction east and weft, as is the cafe with the mountains of the Moon in Africa. Thus, did they in reality run north and fouth, the hypothefis would be overturned; but our new obfervations convince us of the contrary. The above-mentioned directions having been examined with the nicest attention, it appears that neither the particular ferics proceed precifely from caft to weft, nor the junction of them north and fouth. The latter declines to the fouth eaft, and the particular feries decline in the fame proportion, to the weftward from weft to fouth-weft, and to the caftward from caft to north-east. The reafon of this is, that South America does not completely interfect the equator. Thus, if a line were to be drawn through its middle, longitudinally, it would form with the equinoctial line an angle of fixty degrees only, inftead of ninety, To restore the directions of our cordilleras in fuch a way as that they should look precifely towards the cardinal points, it would be neceflary that a comet, fuch as the one of which WHISTON dreamed, fhould make its appearance, thould fuddenly attach this continent to Cape Horn, and push it thirty degrees to the weftward.

* Vanier, Praed. pag. 117.

Thefe lines may be thus freely tranflated: "O happy people to whom the earth pours forth her ftores at will; an whom providence has beflowed fummers, the cooinets of which eniulate the poing; winte.s without cold.; a cloudlefs firmament; and a foil highly fer

wile without flowers.

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dismal array of of the fepulchre, the dif plays herfelf living, and in all her fplendor. The high world is the principal nave: its flooring, fuperior in elevation to Olympus, Pindus, Imaus, or the Pyrenean mountains, fupports a magnificent facade looking towards the north, and crowned by the celestial equator. The edifice, which terminates beneath the tropic of Capricorn, is crowned at the meridian by another arch of equal elegance. Corazon, Iligniza, Chimborazo, Collanes, Vilcanota, Illimani, Condorcma, and Tacora, are the columns by which it is fupported. Antifara, Cotopaxi, Tunguragua, Pichincha, Ambato, Quiniftakac, and Cheke-Putina, are fo many inextinguishable lamps, which, covered by a thick vapour, perpetuate unceasingly the worship of the Deity.

[To be concluded in our next.]

For the Monthly Magazine. Defcription of the Sarique (Virginian Opoffum, of Pennant) lately brought alive intoFrance, by Cit. Rouelle, being an extract of a letter written by him to Cit. Tofcan, Keeper of the National Museum of Natural History.

Sarcus, is found in moft of the HE or Opoffum of the

:

woody and warm parts of that Continent. Its hair is brown, and white at the tips the tail is rather long, naked, and resem bling that ofthe rat: its ears are open, rounded, very thin, and bordered with a light brown edge. It is a filent animal, fleeping during the day and coming forth from its retreat only towards the clofe of evening; it feeks its prey in the night, returning at day-break to its hole, which is generally dug under the roots of fome great tree, and well lined with grafs or mofs. They dwell generally in pairs, but fome males lead a folitary life. Fruits of various kinds conftitute its principal food, and it will eagerly devour the eggs and young of

birds. Its defh is reckoned excellent eat

ing, and vaft numbers are annually deftroyed by the natives and wild quadrupeds: being very ill provided for defence, and running but flowly, as foon as it is purfued it afcends a tree, and fixing itself by its prehenfile tail on one of the topmoft and flendereft branches, it remains fufpended with the head downwards till the purfuit has ceafed: the Indians, however, climb the tree, and breaking the bough to which the Opoffum has fixed itfelf, the animal falls to the ground and is feized by : the dogs in wait below. It brings forth from four to twelve young, without which fertility, the fpecies would foon be annihilated by its numerous enemies,

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The forked lightning darts athwart the fky, Quick travelling down to th' eye with dazzling rays:

Then, darkness all around, how fweet thevoice Of friend! In converfe kind there dwells a charm,

That wakes a fmile, and mocks the founding ftorm.

Nor lefs, when 'mid the barren dreary heath The traveller ftrays, where fcarce a heathflower blooms

Yellow, or purple, as where Pentland lifts
His ridge, or fpread the poor unthrifty plains
Of Cardigan, (where Pity's eye furveys
Rude heaps of lime and ftone, which industry
But mock, and fcarce a hedge-row deigns to
Imile,

Save the poor furze ;---) or toiling when he climbs

Snowdon or hoar Plinlimmon's craggy files, Brecnoc, or Grampian fummits :---Who furveys

Nature's grand scenery, may not always hope To view the cultur'd garden, or the lawn Of verdure foftly fmooth, or daified vale: Nor always may he meet the wilder charms Of brighter picturesque; nor gaze entranced The lake, whofe fair expanfe, like mirror clear,

What fmiles upon the bank, of bush, or tree, And heaven's blue vault, reflects; for nature's tints,

Various as bold, difplay no common tone. She, fkilful painter, from the wide extremes Of rough and fmooth, of light and fhades

effects

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POETRY.

Or fcaling high the cliff, or piercing deep The fecret mine, or filver-winding stream Skimming in wanton veffel, or with staff, Like jolly pilgrim, pacing with flow ftep The pathiefs muir, where the short windleftray

Of filvery brown, difperfed with many a knob And green tall rush, obftruct the doubtful

foot;

Converf is doubly fweet---and fuch, my friend,

We have enjoyed; but now agree to take
A long farewell: and thus through human

life;

For what is human life? a day's fhort journey, With changes fraught ;---now up the wond' rous height

Hope climbs, and wiftful views, and views again

The lengthening profpect---calls the profpect fair ;--

Now, like the lightfome kid, o'er verdant lawn

She fprings, then, 'midst the folitary wafte Sings chearful, though no voice he hears Save the rude north-eaft, or the querulous around,

brook,

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Might tempt us ftill t' extend our focial walk. DUNKELD,Oh! lov'd retreat,embofom'd deep In boldest rocks, and woods, that graceful clothe

The mountain fide, befide whose smiling cots Rolls his pellucid ftream the fprightly Tay, Scotia's divider ftream, defcending quick, Meand'ring wide, Braidalbin's filver lake, Fast haftening to the Frith: Here browner elms,

The greener piné, and larch of paler hue Spread their most wanton branches: every

tree

DUNKELD, its favourite fweetest residence. A language borrows, as proclaiming thee,

Enchanting fcene! farewell-So bleft a spot Might well allure the priest of ancient time; (For prudent well he knew to choose the

foil

Of faireft, fweetest promise, as most apt For holy mufings) well might it allure, To rafe his temple here: and still appea

The

122

walls

Mr. Dyer to Mr. Aikin.

The fainted abbey, whofe time-mouldered As natures' fongfters! And what fcene fo gay As the ftill changing, ftill delightful change Of hill and dale, and deep romantic glen, Qaick-gliding stream, and ever babbling

Bring to the memory the fair Gothic haunts Of Tintern, Monmouth's, fair fequefter'd ruin,

Near which Wye pours the wild romantic flood.

Low funk in earth the gates! and round

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brook!

And, oh! what found so sweet as western gales Kiffing the trembling trees! And fancy can Wake founds ftill fweeter, can create new fcenes,

Fresh, gay, ambrofial, fuch as purer sense Of mufeful bard fees, hears, and grows infpir'd.

There are t' whom humbler walks have
charms: their feet

Can vifit the clofe cot, where poverty
Sits patient, and where industry retired
From daily toil, drinks-in the poifoned air,
Nor need they fcorn to tread the dark retreat
Of prifon, and point out to Britain's fons
What may demand redress: fubjects like these
Soften the heart: nor fhall the humble mufe

Blush at thefe themes, though now perchance compell'd

To different mufings :---there she learnt to

fcorn

The low difdains of contumely, there caught
The fire of indignation, there the glow
Of mercy, and to mercy tunes her lyre.

Ye generous rich, for 'mid the numerous

tribe

Of gold-gorg'd wealthy, Britain boafts her few Of rich, and generous, fcorn not to contrive How best to houfe the labourer,* let him tafte The fweets of cleanliness, and know to breathe Pure air; nor let him tremble at th' approach Of every wind that rides the pelting form. He, for your luxuries labours, he to you Like the poor patient ox, and gentle sheep, Raiment and food fupplies: ah! fay, fhall he Meet nothing but contempt, and low neglect? Who deems his fellow mean, for man's his

fellow,

Himself is mean---is worthlefs---a mere no thing,

And though he force the poor's man's out

ward worship

Knee-bent to th' earth, fhall have his heart's contempt.

My friend, be thine to rove no fruitless path For fcience guides thee, and thyfelf haft rais'd Fair hopet, and pointing thee to rural haunts And pleafing themes, thy parent leads the way.

To thofe who have vifited the wretched unhealthy hovels in the Highlands of Scotland, and in Ireland, it cannot be deemed unfeafonable to recommend an attention to the more decent accommodation of the cot ters, or cottagers. Men of fortune, who in future may build on their eftates habitations for their poor tenants, would do well to ftudy a most interesting publication entitled, "Heights and Elevations for Cottages," by Wood.

+ Seca Journal of a Tour through North Wales and part of Shropshire, with Obfervations on Mineralogy, and other branches of Natural History, by Arthur Aikin.

The

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