150 A VOYAGE TO Book. VII, 



The climate is hot, and consequently its products are 

 such as are common to hot countries. Some parts 

 have vineyards, and in others are made considerable 

 quantities of su£^ar. It abounds also in cattle and 

 sheep. The extent in some parts is near forty leagues. 

 The vicinity of the Chiriguanos is a continual unea- 

 siness to the towns in this jurisdiction, and even 

 to the city of Plata itself, they having more than once 

 attempted to surprize it. 



III. The jurisdiction of Porco begins at the west 

 side of the town of Potosi, and about 25 leagues dis- 

 tance from the city of Plata ; extending about 20 

 farther. The coldness of its situation occasions a 

 scarcity of grain and fruits; but, on the other hand, it 

 abounds in fine cattle of all sorts. In this jurisdiction 

 is the mountain of Porco, whence it has its name, 

 and from whose mines the Yncas, as I have already 

 observed, extracted all the silver for their expences 

 and ornaments ; and accordingly was the first mine 

 worked by the Spaniards after the conquest. 



IV. About 30 leagues south of Plata lies the ju- 

 risdiction of Tarija, or Chicas, the greatest extent 

 of which is about 35 leagues. The temperature of 

 the air is various, being in some parts hot, and in 

 others cold ; whence it has the advantage of corn, 

 fruits, and cattle. This country every where abounds 

 in mines of gold and silver, and especially that part 

 called Chocayas. Between this province and the 

 country inhabited by wild Indians, runs the large 

 river Tipuanys, the sands of which being mixed witl> 

 gold, are washed like those of the river Caravaga, 

 already mentioned, 



V. In the same part as the former^ but with a 

 small inclination towards the south-west, is the jurist 

 diction of Lipes, and extends also thirty-five leagues. 

 The air is extremely cold, so that grain and fruit thri> e 

 very little here, but it abounds in cattle, particularly 

 those natural to the country, as the vicwna, alpaca. 



