ACCOUNT OF BOOKS. 



1007- 



iroofs in support of this proposi- 

 ion : the facility with which it 

 ends iis maize and other proiludls 

 tlie mine of Pasco, keeps it in a 

 Bost flourishing condition. 



<' The natural history of Peru is 

 'ertile in prodigies. Ail the sys- 

 ems which have been formed in 

 Europe on this subject, are capa- 

 >le of a thousand amplifications, 

 whenever their theories shall be 

 ipplied to our natural produ(5lions. 

 The mountains of Chanchauiayo, 

 Huanuco, Laiuas*, &c. are so ma- 

 ny privileged spots of Nature, re- 

 ativcly lo the surprising gaudiness 

 and beauty of their productions. 

 The intervention of several humid 

 and hot climes, and the dread of 

 the hoslile Indians who inhabit 

 them, have contributed to with-hold 

 from us much information on this 

 head : there is, however, a great 

 scope for investigation and descrip- 

 tion ; and accordinijly the natural 

 history of Peru will occupy no 

 small space in our work. 



"Knowledge is general throughout 

 Peru, as well on account of the na- 

 tural quickness and penetration of 

 its native inhabitants, as through 

 their fondness for study. In 

 whatever does not retpiire a me- 

 ditated combination of ideas, the 

 fair sex has commonly the advantage 

 over ours. The Royal University 

 of St. Mark of Liuia, asid, pro- 

 portionally, the other universities 

 of this kingdom, form a centre of 

 literature, which diffuses an abun- 

 dant light to the whole of the cir- 



cumference. Under their auspices, 

 the moral and philosophical sciences 

 have, latterly, made an incredible 

 progress, having found their way 

 into all the schools, and thence dif- 

 fused themselves rapidly into every 

 order of the state. It is our ear- 

 nest wish that this philosophical 

 light may, by its permanence and 

 efficacy, influence and ameliorate 

 the common system of education. 

 It is on that score alone, in the 

 acceptation which embraces the 

 wiiole extent of the kingdom, that 

 Peru is in some measure defecSlive. 

 A good taste, urbanity, and a social 

 disposition, arc the hereditary qua- 

 lities of every Peruvian." 



We p.iss over the two following 

 heads, namely^, the " Monuments of 

 Ancient Peru," and its " Physical 

 Geography," as a review of them, 

 would too much extend our limits, 

 contenting ourselves with stating, 

 that the first contains many singular 

 fads, v^itii respect to the ancient 

 sculptures, as wellasto the vestiges 

 of civil and military architecture of 

 the country; the roads cut through 

 the Cordillera mountains, the jnum- 

 niies, and the catacombs. With 

 respect to the second, our satisfac- 

 tion has not been so complete; 

 owing, principally, to the bombastic 

 and inflated style in which it is writ- 

 ten ; the view, ho.vever, it affords 

 of the great natural features of that 

 wonderful country, is curious and 

 interesting. 



The next division of the work 

 belongs to the natural history of 



<ient on the intendcncy of Tarina, fiom whicli it is distant ten leagues, and from Li- 

 ma thirty -eiglit. 



* Tlic mountains of C^iauchamayo are distant from Tarma twenty-five Icn^ues. 

 Those of Iluauuco arc dibiant from I,ima about ciiility leai;iies. The uiountains of 

 Lamas extend from Teti;, tlio liouudary of the Portuguese possessions, to the con- 

 fine* of the intendency of Truxilio. 



Peru, 



