eity of Quito, to the height of 18,898 feet ahove the level of the sea. It is the most beautiful of the colossal summits of the Andes, being a perfect cone, covered with an enormous layer of snow, and shining at sunset with dazzling splendor. The most remarkable eruptions took place in the years 1698, 1738, 1742, 1744, 1766, 1768 and in 1803. In some of these the flames have risen nearly 3,000 feet above the brink of the crater. cities and towns have been overwhelmed, and the roarings of the volcano have been heard at the distance of 600 miles. The explosion in January 1803 was preceded by the dreadful phenomenon of the sudden meiting of the snow around the mountain. For 20 years before no smoke or vapor, that could be perceived, had issued from the crater; and in a single night the subterraneous fire became so active, that at day-break the external walls of the cone, heated by the action of the flames, appeared naked The melted snow desended in an impetuous torrent on the neighboring plains, sweeping down every obstacle, and involving in destruction all that was exposed to its fury. Humboldt, who was at this time at the port of Guayaquil, 150 miles distant, mentions, that day and night, so long as the eruption lasted, the roar of the volcano was heard like the continued discharge of cannon. Rivers.] All the rivers which rise east of the Andes are tributaries of the Orinoco and the Amazon; those which rise west of the Andes fall into the Pacific Ocean; and those between the eastern and western branches flow north into the Caribbean sea. The Magdalena is the great river of New Granada. It rises near Popayan, between the parallels of 1° and 2° N. lat. and pursuing a northerly course between the eastern and middle branches of the Andes, falls into the Caribbean sea, after a course of 1,000 miles, for 600 of which it is navigable. The Cauca rises, also near Popayan, and pursuing a northerly course of about 500 miles between the middle and western branches of the Andes, falls into the Magdalena. The Atrato is a considerable river, which falls into the gulf of Darien, after a northerly course of 2 or 3 hundred miles. The Guayaquil, which falls into the gulf of the same name, is navigable for 120 m les. The Tumbez, a small river which falls into the gulf of Guayaquil in 3° 25′ S. lat. forms part of the boundary between New Granada and Pern. The principal rivers which fall into the Orinoco are the Meta, the Vichada, and the Guaviari, all of which rise on the east side of the chain of Venezuela, and pursue an easterly course for several hundred miles. The Meta is 500 miles long and is navigable for 370 miles. The principal tributaries of the Amazon are the Napo, the Putumayo or Ica, the Yapura and the Negro, all of which rise east of the Andes and pursue a southeasterly course. Face of the country.] The country inclosed between the ridges. of the Andes consists of elevated plains, as we have already mentioned. On the east of the Andes there are los plains extending on a dead level for hundreds of miles towards the Orinoco and the Amazon, and watered by the tributaries of those rivers. On the coasts the land is low, in some places marshy, and in others sandy. Climate.] The climate varies according to the elevation. On the coasts and in the low country it is excessively hot and unhealthy. The elevated plains between the double ridge of the Andes, although directly under the equator, in the centre of the torrid zone, enjoy a temperate and steady climate; and it is chiefly in these delightful spots that the European colonists have fixed their abode. Soil and Productions.] The soil of this country is fertile in all the richest productions of the temperate and torrid zones. The low plains produce in abundance sugar cane, coffee, cacao, cotton, tobacco, beautiful timber for ship-building, valuable dye-woods, and medicinal plants of various kinds. Flowers and fruits are also found in inexhaustible variety. Maize, wheat, and all the European plants and vegetables are cultivated by the Spaniards on the high plains, as successfully as in New Spain. Animals.] The animals of this country are various and abundant. In the mountains are found stags, bears, rabbits and mountain cats; while the sultry plains and forests produce tigers or jaguars, which are extremely fierce; lions, though of a small size, besides leopards, tiger-cats, monkeys, &c. There are also scorpions, alligators, vipers, and snakes, some of which are of enormous size and much dreaded for their courage and agility. The condor is the largest bird, and is frequently known to sieze and fly away with lambs. Cattle have multiplied to such an extent in the low snd extensive plains as to be troublesome from their numbers Minerals. This kingdom is extremely rich in minerals, particularly in gold, the amount of which for the year 1301 was £507,000. The silver procured here is also remarkably pure. Platina, that valuable mineral, was for a long time thought to be peculiar to this country. Lead and copper are also found, though little sought after: emeralds and other precious stones are sent to Europe, and salt is obtained in great quantity. Chief towns] Santa Fe de Bogota, the capital, is on the small river Bogota, a tributary of the Magdalena. It is handsomely built, on a spacious fertile plain, elevated more than 3,000 feet above the level of the sea, and contains about 30,000 inhabitants. Quito is situated in the Andes, almost under the equator, at the distance of about 100 miles from the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It is built on the side of the volcanic mountain of Pichincha, at an elevation of 9,510 feet above the level of the sea. Owing to the elevation, the temperature is here mild and delightful throughout the year; but there are frequently dreadful tempests of thunder and lightning, and more dreadful earthquakes. In 1797 an earthquake suddenly changed the face of the whole district in which the city is situated, and in the space of a second, forty thousand persons were hurled into eternity. The city contains 7 churches. a university and numerous convents. The population is about. 70,000; of which number the whites constitute one sixth part, the Indians another sixth, and the remainder is composed of mestizoes and casts of different kinds. Popayan is situated in the Andes under lat 2° 28′ N. about 200 miles N. E. of Quito, on an extensive plain, elevated 5,905 feet above the level of the sea, and in the immediate vicinity of the great volcanoes of Purace and Sotora. It is the seat of the royal mint, the annual coinage of which is estimated at a million dollars. The population is computed at 25,000, of whom one third part are negroes; one sixth part, Indians; and the remainder whites, mestizoes and mulattoes. The principal sea ports on the coast of the Caribbean sea are Carthagena and Porto Bello. Carthagena is in lat. 10° 30' N. on a sandy island, artificially connected at the west end with the main Jand The harbor is spacious, defended from every wind, with a sufficient depth of water, and good anchorage, but the entrance is very narrow. The climate is excessively hot and unhealthy, but the advantageous situation of the town has, notwithstanding, made it a place of extensive trade. Its wealth and importance has caused it to be frequently pillaged by the English and French, and during the contest which is now carrying on between Spain and her colonies, it has frequently been taken and retaken by the contending parties. The population is estimated at 24,000. Porto Bello is on the north coast of the isthmus of Darien, in lon. 79° 26' W. It has an excellent harbor, but the situation of the town is unhealthy, being surrounded by mountains which prevent the free circulation of the air. The population is inconsiderable, and consists chiefly of negroes and mulattoes. The principal ports on the Pacific are Panama and Guayaquil. Panama is on the south side of the isthmus of Darien, 65 miles south of Porto Bello, at the bottom of the bay of Panama. It was formerly a place of great trade. Guayaquil is on the west bank of the river of the same name, about 20 miles from its mouth. The river is navigable to the town for vessels of any size, and affords an excellent harbor. Canals. Various plans have been proposed for connecting the two oceans by canals. The small river Chagre, which falls into the Caribbean sea a little west of Porto Bello, is navigable to Cruces, 5 leagues from Panama. The elevation of the country between Cruces and Panama has never been accurately asertained, but it is supposed would afford no obstacle to a canal for boats, though it would be wholly impossible to construct one for large vessels. A branch of the Rio Atrato, which falls into the gulf of Darien, approaches within five or six leagues of the Pacific Ocean, and the intervening country is quite level and proper for a canal. Another branch of the Rio Atrato approaches so near to a small river which falls into the Pacific, that a small canal has been actually dug between them, by means of which, when the rains are abundant, canoes loaded with cacao pass from sea to sea. Population and Religion.] The population has never been accurately ascertained, but is computed at 1,800,000. It is composed of Spaniards, Creoles, Indians, mestizoes and negroes. Of these the Indians are the most numerous. The religion is Roman Catholic, as in all the Spanish colonies. Government.] New Granada, a few years since, was a Spanish colony under the dominion of a viceroy, whose residence was at. Santa Fe de Bogota. In 1811, however, a Congress, assembled at Carthagena, declared the country independent. The royaltroops afterwards succeeded in re-establishing the authority of the mother country; but the revolutionists have recently again thrown off the yoke, and this country is now united with Caraccas under the title of the Republic of Columbia. The independence of the new republic has never yet been acknowledged by any civilized nation. Natural Curiosity.] The Cataract of Tequendama, in the river Bogota, near Santa Fe, is a natural curiosity. This river, after watering the elevated plain on which that city stands, breaks through the mountains, and with two bounds rushes down a precipice to the astonishing depth of 570 feet. The column of vapor, which rises like a cloud from the shock, is seen from the walks around Santa Fe, 15 miles distant, reflecting the colors of the rainbow in ever varying beauty. CARACCAS. Boundaries and Extent.] Caraccas, including Spanish Guiana, isbounded N. by the Caribbean sea; N. E. by the Atlantic Ocean; E. by English Guiana; S. by Portuguese Guiana, and W. by New Granada. It extends on the coast from the mouth of the Esequebo, in 6°40′ N. lat. to Cape de la Vela in lat. 12° N. In the interior it extends as far south as the equator. The number of square miles, according to Hassel, is 511,324. Divisions.] In 1804 there were five provinces, which are given in the following table, with the population according to the estimate of Depons: Total, Chief Towns. 100,000 80,000 34,000 St. Thomas. 14,000 Assumption. 728,000 Bays.] The Gulf of Maracaibo in the N.W. is inclosed between two peninsulas, and communicates with the Caribbean sea by a mouth 40 miles wide. The Gulf of Cariaco is formed by a long narrow peninsula which projects from the main land to the south of the island of Margarita. The Gulf of Paria, formed by the main land on the west, and the island of Trinidad on the east, is 25 leagues long by 15 broad, and every where affords anchorage and protection for the largest vessels. It receives the waters from several of the mouths of the Orinoco, and communicates with the ocean by two outlets, one at the N. W. point of the island of Trinidad, and the other at the S. W. point of the same island. Face of the country.] The northern part of the country is mountainous, being occupied by the chain of Venezuela, a branch of the Andes which comes from New Granada, and after proceeding for some distance in a northeasterly direction, at last turus to the east, and runs along the coast, continually diminishing in height till it terminates on the gulf of Paria, opposite the island of Trinidad. The whole country south of the mountains consists of immense plains, which stretch out for hundreds of miles in length and width, comprehending nearly the whole country watered by the Orinoco and its branches. The district along the banks of the Orinoco in the lower part of its course, extending 200 leagues from its mouth, and in some places 30 leagues broad, is annually overflowed in the rainy season, and nothing is then discoverable but here and there a hillock, and the tops of the tallest trees. Lakes. Lake Maracaibo in the N.W. is 200 miles long and 70 broad, and communicates with the gulf of Maracaibo through a narrow strait, which is well defended by strong forts. It is easily navigated by vessels of the greatest burden. A large lake, called lake Parinia, is frequently laid down on the maps a little to the east of the sources of the Orinoco,but its dimensions and even its existence have never been ascertained. Rivers. The numerous small rivers which rise on the northern declivity of the chain of Venezuela fall directly into the Caribbean sea, and are generally navigable only for a few miles All the rivers which rise on the southern declivity of the same chain are tributaries of the Orinoco, except the Guarapiche, which falls into the gulf of Paria. The Orinoco, the great river of this country, has already been described. Its principal tributaries are 1. the Caroni, a large rive er from the south, the navigation of which is obstructed by falls one league from its mouth; 2. the Apura, which rises on the borders of New Granada, to the south of Lake Maracaibo, and af ter pursuing an easterly course for 170 leagues, during which it receives from the north numerous navigabie and wide spreading branches, discharges itself impetuously into the Orinoco through many mouths; 3. the Meta, which rises in New Granada, on the eastern declivity of the mountains, not far from Santa Fe de Bogota, and flowing N. E. joins the Orinoco 30 leagues below the eataracts of Atures. Climate.] The towns on the coast, which enjoy a regular land and sea breeze, and those near and on the mountains have a milder climate than would be expected from their tropical situation. The temperature of the city of Caraccas is delightful |