PERU. 



■lo3 



2. Towns (luilo^ Xne capital of The Equator, is built on an elevated plain, on the eastern 



slope of the western chain of 

 the Andes, at an elevation of 

 9,600 feet. At this elevation 

 the climate is such that vegeta- 

 tion never ceases. Around the 

 city are seen 1 1 colossal sum- 

 mits, covered with perpetual 

 snow, and reaching the height of 

 from 16,000 to 21,000 feet. 

 Several of these are volcanoes, 

 and the city is so often visited by 

 earthquakes, that the buildings 

 are, like those of Bogota, low, 

 but solid. The episcopal palace, 

 the government house, and the 

 cathedral, with numerous con- 

 vents and churches, are the 

 most remarkable publicedifices. 



The university of Quito has enjoyed great celebrity in South America. The streets of the city 

 are irregular and crooked, and so uneven as not to be adapted to carriages. Population, 70,000. 

 Guayaquil is distinguished for the excellence of its harbor, and the extent of its commerce. 

 The government has a navy-yard here, and ship-building is extensively carried on. Popula- 

 tion, 22,000. About 170 leagues west of the coast is the fine group of the Galapagos (Tor- 

 toise) Islands, deriving their name from the abundance of a gigantic species of land tortoise, 

 which Dr. Harlan has called the Testudo elephantopus, or elephant tortoise. The islands en- 

 ioy a delightful climate and a fertile soil, and have been occupied by a colony from Guayaquil. 

 Riobamba, with 20,000 inhabitants, Ibarra, with 10,000, and Latacunga, with 17,000, are 

 among the other most important towns. Ciienca, situated at an elevation of more than 8,000 

 feet above the level of the sea, contains a college, a Jesuit's house, and an episcopal palace. 

 The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the manufacture of cotton goods, hats, and confection- 

 ary. Population, 20,000. 



3. History^ Inhabitants. This State formerly constituted the Spanish Presidency of Quito, 

 which was dependent upon the viceroy alty of New Grenada. But a small proportion of the 

 inhabitants are whites, the Indians and mixed breeds composing the bulk of the population. 



. The civilized part of the population is confined to the central valley and the western coast, the 

 vast tracts to the east of the mountains being occupied by independent and hostile tribes of 

 savages. The aborigines belonged to the Peruvian family, and numerous remains of their ar- 

 chitectural industry and skill are still visible. In 1809 the inhabitants of Quito deposed the 

 Spanish President, and, after a long struggle, the Spanish authority was completely overthrown 

 by the splendid victory of Pichincha in 1822, soon after which Quito was united with Colom- 

 bia. This union was dissolved in 1830, and Quito formed an independent republic. 



CHAPTER LXI. PERU. 



niYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



1. Boundaries. Peru is bounded. N. by The Equator ; E. by Brazil ; S. by Bolivia and 

 the Pacific Ocean, and W. by the Pacific Ocean. It extends from 3° to 22° S. lat, and 

 from 67° to 82° W. long., having an area of 500,000 square miles, with a population of 

 1,800,000. 



2. Mountains. Several chains of the Andes traverse Peru from south to north. The 

 principal cham Ifes nearly parallel to the coast, and contains the loftiest summits, among which 

 is the volcano of Arequipa, 17,750 feet high. Two other chains of less elevation sepa- 

 rate the waters of the Tunguragua from those of the Huallaga, and those of the latter I'l-om the 

 confluents of the Paro. 



3. Rivers. The only considerable rivers of Peru are the Tunguragua^ the Paro or 

 Ucayali, and some other tributaries of the Amazon, which descend the eastern declivities of 

 the Andes. 



harlliquaiic in Quito. 



