TOPOGRAPHY. 



329 



of the Cordillera to which an allusion has already been made, 

 and passing through the centre of the parochial distri6l of San 

 Lorenzo, descends to the city of that name, where its water, 

 having lost its pureness and transparence, is no longer potable. 

 Continuing its progress, it flows into the valley of la Concep- 

 cion, a league below the town. Another small river, which 

 may with more propriety be named a torrent, has its source 

 in the southern part of the same Cordillera, whence it is 

 precipitated into the province of Tucuman, and, in its de- 

 scent, supplies with a portion of its v>^aters the Chahuaya 

 tribe, from which it receives its name, until at length it unites 

 with the Guadalquivir in the most level part of the distri£t of 

 la Concepcion. The last river to be cited, proceeds from the 

 centre of the above-mentioned cordillera, together with other 

 streams which traverse the dependency of Tolomosa ; and is 

 named Bermejo. After having, in its progress, incorporated 

 itself with the Guadalquivir, it takes the name of the river of 

 Tarija. At the distance of a few leagues from its confluence 

 it forces its passage through a strait, and having traversed the 

 mountains, discharges itself below the mission of las Salinas, 

 whence it passes in the vicinity of Salta, &c. and proceeds to 

 the celebrated plains of Manco, known by the name of Gran 

 Chaco, seeking the Parahuay*, having already resumed its 

 primitive name of Bermejo, and receiving the contents of 

 other smaller streams. These dilferent rivers, the latter even, 

 which is by far the most considerable, have not any influence 

 on the conveniences of life and commerce of the provinces 



* Father Maccioni, in his history, asserts, that before it loses itself in that riveri 

 it receives the waters of the Juxui. 



u u through 



