Ck. V. SOUTH AMERICA. 363 



CHA?. V. 



Government of Maynas^ and of tl:e River IMtlranon^ 

 or that of the Amazons ; its Discovery, Course, and 

 that of the Rivers running into it. 



"AVING treated of the governments of Pcipayan 

 and Jüen de Bracamoros, which are the nor- 

 thern limits of the provi-;ice of Quito ; as also of 

 Atacames, which is its western bouiidary ; Í now pro- 

 ceed'to the govei^nment (ífMaynas, the eastern limit 

 of its juris'iiction. This is particularly entitled to a 

 sepa-aie and succinct description, as the great river 

 Maranon flows through it. 



The ¿i;overnmentof Mavnas liescontio-uoustothose 

 ofQuixosand Jaen de Bracairioios, towards the east. 

 In its territories are the sources of I hose rivers, which, 

 after rapici'y traversing a vast extent, form, by their 

 conflux, the famous river of the Amazons, known al- 

 so by the name of Maranon. The shores of this and 

 many rivers which pay it the tribute of their waters, 

 environ and pervade the government ofMaynas. I15 

 limits, both towards the north and south, are litrle 

 known, being extended far among the countries of 

 infidel Indians ; so that all the account which can be 

 expected is from the missionaries employed in the 

 conversion and spiritual government of the wild na- 

 tions which inhabit it. Eastward it joins the posses- 

 sions of the Portuguese, tVom which it is separated by 

 the famous line of demarcation, the boundar) belweea 

 the Spanish and Portuguese possessions. 



Were I to confine myself in general to the extent 

 of the government of Maynas, my description would 

 be very imperfect, and want the noblest obje^ c of the 

 reader's curiosity, a description of the nver of the 

 Amazons J a subject no less entertaining than un- 

 ^nownj 4nd the mqrediííicult of obtaining a thorough 



know- 



