72 



FALL OF THE TEQUENDAMA. 



PLATE VI. 



The elevated plain, on which stands the city of 

 Santa Fe de Bogota, resembles in a variety of 

 circumstances that which is surrounded by the 

 Mexican lakes. Each of these plains is higher 

 than the summit of St. Bernard, the first being 

 two thousand six hundred and sixty, and the 

 second two thousand two hundred and seventy- 

 seven metres above the level of the ocean. The 

 valley of Mexico is bounded by a circular wall 

 of mountains of porphyry, and its centre is co- 

 vered with water : for the numerous torrents, 

 which rush into the valley, found no outlet, 

 until the Europeans had dug the canal of Hue- 

 huetoca. The plain of Bogota is also encircled 

 by lofty mountains ; and the perfect level of the 

 soil, its geologial structure, the form of the 

 rocks of Suba and Facatativa, which rise like 

 small islands in the midst of the savannahs, seem 

 all to indicate the existence of an ancient lake. 

 The river of Funzha, usually called Rio de 



