354 SMITHSONIAN MISCIiLf.ANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I02 



being a very lofty range whose ascent is 5 leagues long ; on its top 

 is a medium-sized lake which is the source and origin of the two 

 famous mighty rivers paved with gold, the Magdalena and the Cauca. 

 The Magdalena runs N. through a more easterly region, down the 

 Neiva Valley ; the Cauca, on the W. side through the State of 

 Popayan. Rising in this little lake, and flowing each of them over 200 

 leagues, they finally unite 4 leagues from Tenerife in the Diocese of 

 Santa Marta, some 30 leagues before they empty into the sea, which 

 they enter together, forming one of the hugest and mightiest rivers 

 in the world. After their junction they take the name of Rio Grande. 



1068. This city and State contain in their district the following 

 cities : The city of Cali, 22 leagues from Popayan and 28 from the 

 Pacific; it was founded by Capt. Miguel Munoz in the year 1537 at 

 the order of Commander Belalcazar at the foot of a sierra in a 

 pleasant level valley with a hot climate ; it has abundant and excellent 

 supplies of meat, fruit, and fish. It has a parish church and two 

 convents, Augustinian and Mercedarian. The Indians of this region 

 are good Christians and well-disposed. The former lord of this 

 country was named Peteylili. It has in its district good sugar planta- 

 tions and cattle ranches, and within its jurisdiction it has the port 

 of Buena Ventura on the Pacific, at 3°3o' N. 



1069. The city of Buga is 12 leagues N. of Cali ; it has a springlike 

 climate and excellent provisions and fruit. It has wonderful pasturage 

 in its district, and many ranches there with large herds of cattle. 

 It was founded by Commander Sebastian de Belalcazar in the year 

 1537; it has a parish church and a Dominican convent. 



1070. The city of Toro is 14 leagues from Guadalajara de Buga; 

 it was founded in the same year by Commander Belalcazar. It has 

 a good climate, and in its district there are rich gold-ore beds and 

 deposits ; it has large cattle ranches and abundance of delicious fruit, 

 fish, and other supplies. 



Chapter II 



Of the City of.Cartago, and Other Provinces of the District of 

 Popayan. 



1071. The city of Cartago is 10 leagues from Toro. It was founded 

 in the year 1540 by Capt. Jorge de Robledo under orders from Com- 

 mander Sebastian de Belalcazar. It is over 30 leagues from Popayan. 

 It has in its district rich mines and alluvial deposits of gold, which 

 gets washed down into the rivers from the ravines of its sierras by 

 the continual heavy rains. Many tigers live here, lions, tapirs, and 



