Ch. XIII. SOUTH AMERICA. 145 



The city of la Plata has also an university, dedi- 

 cated to St Francis Xavier, the chairs of which 

 are filled indifferently either by secular clergy or lay- 

 men ; but the rector is always a Jesuit. Here are 

 also two other colleges in which lectures of all kinds 

 are read. That of St. John is under the direction of 

 the Jesuits ; while the archbishop nominates to that 

 of^t. Christopher, which is a seminary. 



Two leagues from Plata runs the river Cacliimay 

 along the plains, having on its banks sfeveral plea- 

 sant seats of the inhabitants; and about six in the 

 road leading to Potosi, is the river of Philco-mayo, 

 which is passed over by a large stone bridge. During 

 some mouths of the year this river furnishes the city 

 of Plata with great plenty of delicious fish ; among 

 which is one called the Dorado, * which generallv 

 weighs between twenty and twanty-five pounds. The 

 other provisions, as bread, flesh and fruits, are 

 brought from the adjacent provinces. 



The chief tribunal in Plata is that of the audi- 

 ence, erected in the year 1551), and whose president 

 has the titles of governor and captain-general of 

 the province, exclusive of the government of Santa 

 Cruz de la Sierra, Tucuman, Paraguay aud Buenos 

 Avres, which are independent, and in military cases 

 absolute. It has also a fiscal, a protector-fiscal of 

 the Indians, and two supernumerary auditors. 



The magistracy or corporation, as in all other 

 cities of this country, consists of regidores, who are 

 persons of the first distinction, with the corregidor 

 at their head, and from laem are annually chosen 

 two ordinary alcaldes, for maintaining order and the 

 police. Plata was erected into a bishoprick in 1531, 

 the place hiving then the title of city ; and in the year 

 IGOS was raiSed to a metropolis. Its chapter consists 



•* This is a larger species of the Dolphiu, which, without plenty 

 •r goud sauce, is very dry eating. A. 



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