Ch. hi. south AMERICA. ^o^s 



richness of the country, he proceeded to people it 

 every where. 



Nor was this all j for Belalcazar, in order to en- 

 hance the glory and importance of this country, was 

 very desirous of making a road from Quito to the 

 North Sea, as he had before done to the Pacifick 

 Ocean. Among the discoveries made by his captains 

 whilst he was employed in superintending the build- 

 ing of Popayan, one was, that at no great distance 

 from that place were two of the principal sources of 

 the great river of Magdalena; whence he conceived 

 they might easily find a passage to the North Sea. 

 This opmion the general had the pleasure of finding 

 unanimously agreed to, which induced him to make 

 every disposition for the security and welfare of his 

 conquests, being determined to return by way of that 

 river, to Spain, in order to solicit the title of governor 

 of the country u'hich he had discovered, conquered, 

 and peopled. Accordingly the title was conferred on 

 him, and in his government were comprehended all 

 the territories then considered as within his conquests; 

 but in the year 1730 the country of Choco was se- 

 parated from it, and made a particular government, 

 though the order was not carried into execution till 

 the year 1735. This part, belonging to the province 

 of the new kingdom of Granada, does not come 

 within our description. 



The city of Popayan, one of the most ancient in 

 these parts, that title having been granted it on the 

 fifth of July 1538, stands in a large plain, having on 

 the north side an interrupted prospect of the coun- 

 try. Its latitude is 2° 28' north ; lies about two de- 

 grees east of the meridian of Quito, on the east 

 side of a mountain of a middling height called M, 

 from the resemblance it bears to that letter; and, 

 being covered with a variety of trees, affords an en- 

 tertaining prospect : the west side is also diversified 

 with small eminences. 



The 



