Sketch of the fine of Pasco. 49 
ferent mines, as of silver, copper, iron, ‘lee and combustibles, which 
cause the wealth of the department of Junin. It continues uninter- 
rupted, until united again a little beyond Huanuco. The chains which 
form the circle of Pasco, are broken by the uneven ground of Quin- 
lacocher, Tulluranco, and Pucayacu; (see the map,) that of Quin- 
lacocha, which opens towards the S. E. serves as a drain for the lake 
of the same name, the waters of which are employed for grinding 
with different machines. ‘The others to the N. and E. lead to vari- 
ous engines established in them, and grind with the waters which 
flow from the contiguous chains; these springs form the source of. 
the river Maranon formerly passing by the city of Huacho, in order 
to form the river Guallagen; but others affirm that the true source 
of this river is in Lake Lauricocha near Cayatambo. In this basin 
are three lakes, two of them, those of Partacocha, communicate, 
and that of Quinlacocha which is the largest, serves as a drain 
to the excavations; there are also some plains in the northern 
part, called pampas de St. Andres. Whithersoever you recede, to- 
wards the north, east and west, you are obliged to descend considera- 
bly ; so, that in less than an hour, you find a milder climate, and a 
vegetation no where seen in Yauricocha or Pasco. The aspect of 
the mines is more gloomy than can be readilyimagined. Naked rocks, 
the sight of which at once indicates the barrenness of the metallic 
mountains, the people torpid with cold, the want of respiration on ac- 
count of the tenuity of the air, their clothes, countenances, plainly 
show the labors which they endure, and the dangerous, disagreeable 
life they lead in the caverns.—The range of Pasco, is situated in 
10° 55’ S. lat. and 75° 40’ W. long. counting from the meridian of 
Greenwich. Its height is five thousand, two hundred and six yards* 
above the level of the sea; it is sixty lenges fom LAAs and contains 
about five or six thousand pee three fourths of whom are employed 
in working the mines. The houses are irregular, all made of unburnt 
brick, covered with papa, and situated on a declivity at the mining 
works.—Its climate is very disagreeable, as well on account of the 
excessive cold, as its height. Its temperature in the months of June, 
August and September, is on an average through the day 44° Fah.— 
at night 35°. In these months I obseryed several falls of snow, and 
hail in abundance, which made the thermometer descend considera- 
* Fifteen thousand, six hundred and — feet; about the height of Mount 
Blanc, the highest point of pass 
Vor. XVIL—No. 1. 7 
