182 



ScierUi/ic Intelligen ce. — Statistics. 



STATISTICS. 



1 . Number of pupils which attended the universities of the Neth- 

 erlands in the year 1827, and who were inscribed on the lists of the 

 different faculties. 



Report of Minister of the Interior, 1829. — Rev.Encyc. Aout, 1829. 



2. Peruvian geography and geognosy. — Extract from a statement 

 of the labors of M. Pentland in Peru, by Alex, de Humboldt. 



The great chain of Peruvian Andes is divided, between the 14th 

 and 20th degrees of south latitude, into two longitudinal branches, 

 which are separated from each other by a wide valley, or rather by a 

 Plateau, the surface of which is elevated two thousand and thirty 

 three toises above the sea. The northern extremity of this table 

 includes the Lake Titicaca. The shores and islands of this lake are 

 remarkable for having been the seat of ancient Peruvian civilization, 

 and the center of the empire of the Incas. The western chain sepa- 

 rates the bed of the Lake Titicaca and the valley of the Desaqua- 

 rado from the shores of the South Sea, and it presents a great num- 

 ber of volcanos still in activity. Its geognostic constitution is essen- 

 tially volcanic, while the eastern chain consists entirely of mountains 

 of secondary and transition formation, of micaceous schist, syenite, 

 porphyry, red sandstone, marl containing fossil salt, gypsum, and a 

 little calcareous oolite. 



From this eastern chain, issue a great number of torrents, which 

 empty into the Rio-Beni, and which bear down with them portions 

 of auriferous sand. One of these streams deposits so great a quan- 

 tity of this gangue, that it has given to the little valley of Tipiani, in 

 the district of Larecaja, the name, now so celebrated, of Dorado or 



