ULLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 629 



CHAP. XIV. — Account of the three Diocefes of La Paz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, and 

 Tucuman ; and of their refpe6iive Provinces, 



THE provmce in which the prefent city of La Paz is fituated, was formerly known 

 by the name of Chuquiyapu, which, in the idiom of that country, is commonly 

 thought to fignify Chacra, or an inheritance of gold, and is there corruptly called 

 Chuquiabo. Accordingly, Garcelafo pretends that Chuquiyapu fignifies Lanz Capitana, 

 or principal lance ; but this is deriving it from the general language of the Yncas, and 

 with a difference in the penultima, it not being uncommon for a word nearly alike in 

 found to have a very different fignificatlon in each idiom. This province was firft con- 

 quered by Mayta-Capac, the fourth Ynca ; and the Spaniards having afterwards taken 

 poffeffion of it, and quelled all difturbances, this city was founded by Pedro de la Gafca, 

 that in the vaft diftance of an hundred and feventy leagues between Arequipa and 

 Plata, there might be a fettlement of Spaniards, for the improvement of commerce, 

 and the fafety and conveniency of the traders. The prefident Gafca committed the 

 care of building it to Alonzo de Mendoza, with orders that it Ihould be ereded on a 

 fpot, midway between Cufco and Charcas, which are one hundred and fixty leagues 

 . from each other ; and that it fhould be called Nueftra Senora de la Paz, in memory of 

 the public tranquillity receiltly fettled by the defeat and execution of Gonzalo Pizarro, 

 and his adherents. With regard to its fituation, a valley in the country called Las 

 Pacafas, was pitched upon, on the 8th of Odober 1548, as a place abounding in grain 

 and cattle, and full of Indians. 



Along the valley De la Paz, flows a pretty large river, but fometimes greatly in- 

 creafed by torrents from the Cordillera, about twelve leagues diftant from the city ; 

 but from its vicinity, great part of the country is expofed to fo cold an air, as hard 

 frofts, fnow, and hail, are not uncommon ; but the city itfelf is fecured from them by 

 its happy fituation. Other parts are alfo fo well flieltered, that they produce all the 

 vegetables of a hot climate, as fugar-canes, coca, maize, and the like. In the moun- 

 tainous parts are large woods of valuable timber, but infefled with bears, tigers, and 

 leopards ; they have alfo a few deer : while on the heaths are found guanacos, vicunas, 

 and llamas, with great numbers of cattle of the European fpecies, as will be feen in 

 the account of each refpective province. 



The city is of a middling fize, and from its fituation among the breaches of the 

 Cordillera, the ground on which it Hands is not only unequal, but alfo furrounded by 

 mountains, without any other profped: than the channel of the river, and the adja- 

 cent mountains. When its river is increafed, either by rains or the melting of the 

 fnow on the mountain, its current forces along huge maffes of rocks, with fome grains 

 of gold, which are found after the flood has fubfided. Hence fome idea may be 

 formed of the riches inclofed in the bowels of thefe mountains ; but a more remarkable 

 demonft:ration appeared in the year 1730, when an Indian, happening to wafli his feet 

 in the river, difcovered a lump of gold, of fo large a fize, that the Marquis de Cafl:el- 

 Fuerte gave twelve thoufand pieces of eight for it, and fent it to Spain, as a prefent 

 worthy the curiofity of his fovereign. 



This city is governed by a corregidor, under whom are regidores, and ordinary 

 alcaldes, as in all other towns. Befides the cathedral, and the parifli church Del 

 Sagrario, where two priefts oflSciate, here are alfo thofe of St. Barbara, St. Sebafl:ian, 

 and St. Peter : the religious fraternities of Francifcans, Dominicans, Augufl:ines, ^ the 

 fathers of Mercy, a college of Jefuits, and a convent and hofpital of St. Juan de Dios ; 



1 1 together 



