ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. ^Sj 



Its fituation is one of the moft advantageous that can be imagined ; for being in the 

 centre of that fpacious valley, it commands the whole without any difficulty. North- 

 ward, though at a • confiderable diftance, is the Cordillera, or chain of the Andes; 

 from whence fome hills projeft into the valley, the nearefl of which to the city are 

 thofe of St. Chriftopher and Amancaes. The perpendicular height of the former, 

 according to a geometrical menfuration performed by Don George Juan, and M. de la 

 Condamine in 1737, is one hundred and thirty-four toifes ; but Father Feviilee makes 

 it one hundred and thirty-fix toifes and one foot, which difference doubtlefs proceeds 

 from not having meafured with equal exadinefs, the bafe on which both founded their 

 calculations. The height of the Amancaes, is little lefs than the former, and fituated 

 about a quarter of a league from the city. 



The river, which is of the fame name, wafhes the walls of Lima, and when not in- 

 creafed by the torrents from the mountains is eafily forded ; but at other times, befides 

 the increafe of its breadth, its depth and rapidity render fording impoffible ; and ac- 

 cordingly a very elegant and fpacious ftone bridge is built over it, having at one end 

 a gate, the beautiful architedure over which is equal to the other parts of this ufeful 

 ilrudlure. This gate forms the entrance into the city, and leads to the grand fquare, 

 which is very large and finely ornamented. In the centre is a fountain, equally re- 

 markable for its grandeur and capacity. In the centre is a bronze ftatue of Fame, and 

 on the angles are four fmall bafons. The water is ejefted through the trumpet of the 

 ftatue, ahd alfo through the mouths of eight lions which furround it, and greatly 

 heighten the beauty of this work. The eaft fide of the fquare is filled by the cathedral 

 and the archiepifcopal palace, whofe height furpaffes the other buildings in the city. 

 Its principal foundations, apd the bafes of its columns and pilafters, together with the 

 capital front which faces the weft, are of freeftone ; the infide refembles that of Seville, 

 but not fo large. The outfide is adorned with a very magnificent fa9ade or frontifpiece, 

 rifing into two lofty towers, and in the centre is the grand portal. Round the whole 

 runs a grand gallery, with a baluftrade of wood, refembling brafs in colour, and at 

 proper diftances are feveral pyramids, which greatly augment the magnificence of the 

 ftrufture. In the north fide of the fquare is the viceroy's palace, in which are the 

 feveral courts of juftice, together with the offices of revenue, and the ftate prifon. 

 This was formerly a very remarkable building, both with regard to its largenefs and 

 architedure, but the greateft part of it being thrown down by the dreadful earthquake 

 with which the city was vifited, October 20th, 1687, it now confifts only of fome of 

 the lower apartments erefted on a terras, and is ufed as the refidence of the viceroy and 

 his family. 



On the weft fide which faces the cathedral, is the council-houfe, and the city prifon ; 

 the fouth fide is filled with private houfes, having only one ftory ; but the fronts being 

 of ftone, their uniformity, porticoes, and elegance, are a great embellifhment to the 

 fquare, each fide of which is eighty toifes. 



The form of the city is triangular, the bafe, or longeft fide, extending along the 

 banks of the river. Its length is 1920 toifes, or exadly two-thirds of a league. Its 

 greateft breadth from north to fouth, that is, from the bridge to the angle oppofite to 

 the bafe, is 1080 toifes, or two-fifths of a league. It is furrounded with a brick wall, 

 which anfwers its original intention, but is without any manner of regularity. This 

 work was begun and finifhed by the Duke de la Plata, in the year 1685. It is flanked 

 with thirty-four baftions, but without platforms or embrafures ; the intention of it 

 being merely to inclofe the city, and render it capable of fuftaining any fudden attack 

 of the Indians. It has, in its whole circumference, feven gates and three pofterns. 



On 



