630 / ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 



together with a nunnery of the order of the Conception, and another of Santa Terefa. 

 Here is alfo a college of St. Jerom, for the education of youth, whether defigned 

 for ecclefiaftical or civil employments. 



In 1608, the church De la Paz was feparated from the diocefe of Chuquifaca, to 

 which it before belonged, and erected into a cathedral. Its chapter, befides the bifhop, 

 confifts of a dean, archdeacon, chanter, four canons, and prebendaries ; but with 

 regard to other circumftances, being the fame with feveral cities already defcribed, I 

 {hall proceed to the provinces in its diocefe. 



I. Bifhopric of the audience of Charcas. — La Paz. 



The provinces or jurifdidions in the diocefe of Paz, are the fix following : 



I. La Paz. IV. Laricaxas. 



II. Omafuyos. V. Chuciuto. 

 III. Pacages. VI. Paucar-Colla. 



I. The jurifdiftion of La Paz is of no great extent, and the city is almoft the only 

 place worth notice in it. In the adjacent Cordillera is a mountain of remarkable 

 height, called Illimani, which doubtlefs contains immenfe riches. A crag of it being 

 fome years fmce ftruck from it by a flafh of lightning, and falling on a neighbouring 

 mountain, fuch a quantity of gold was found in the fragments, that for fome time that 

 metal was fold at Paz, at eight pieces of eight per ounce. But its fummit being per- 

 petually covered with ice and fnow, no mine has been opened in this mountain. The 

 fame we have already obferved of thofe high mountains in the province of Quito, 

 all attempts having been rendered abortive. 



II. North-weft, and almoft at the gates of Paz, the jurifdidion of Omafuyos begins, 

 and extends about twenty leagues, being bounded on the weft by the famous lake of 

 Titi-caca, or Chucuito, of which a farther account will be given in the fequel. The 

 air here is fomewhat cold, fo that it produces little grain ; but that deficiency is 

 abundantly compenfated by the great numbers of cattle ; befides an advantageous trade 

 for fifh, carried on in other provinces by the Indians living on the borders of the lake> 

 who are very induftrious in improving that advantage. 



III. Almoft fouth-weft of Paz, is the jurifdiftion of Pacages, the greateft part of 

 which being in a cold climate produces little grain or fruits : fo that the inhabitants 

 apply themfelves to the T^reeding of cattle. This province is however very rich in 

 fdver mines, though but a fmall part of them are worked ; and it is known from un- 

 doubted figns, that thefe mines were worked in the time of the Yncas. Here are alfo 

 mines of talc, called jafpas blancos de Verenguela. It is of a beautiful white, and, 

 on account of its tranfparency, is tranfported to different parts of Peru, for making 

 panes of windows, both in churches and houfes ; as the ftone called Tecali ferves for 

 the fame ufes in New Spain. In thefe mountains are alfo a great number of mines and 

 gems, particularly one of emeralds, well known in Europe, but for fome latent reafons 

 not worked ; together with quarries of different fpecies of marble. In this province 

 is the famous filver mine called Verenguela : and likewife the mountains of Santa Juana, 

 Tampaya, and others, well known for the immenfe treafures extracted from them. 



IV. Adjacent to the territories of the jurifdidion of La Paz, and to the north of 

 that city, is the province of Laricaxas, which extends one hundred and eighteen 

 leagues from eaft to weft, and about thirty from north to fouth. The temperature of 

 the air is different in different parts, and fome of its produds are the fame with thofe 



Pf 



