f 



460 BOLIVIA. 



couth deities, and ferocious rites of the latter, the Peruvians or Quichuas were united in tran- 

 quil subjection to a mild superstition, which represented their inca as the child of the sun, to 

 whom unreserved submission was due. However fable may have been mixed with truth in the 

 tale of Manco Capac and his wife Mama Ocello, the story of the greatness of the Peruvian 

 empire has nothing fabulous. It comprehended not only the vast region now called Peru, but 

 the territory of Quito or Ecuador, which is covered with the monuments of the Incas. Order 

 was established in this vast region ; the land was carefully cultivated ; the rivers were carefully 

 employed in irrigating the soil ; mountains were formed into terraces to receive the canals con- 

 structed for this purpose, and walls were built to prevent the water from escaping ; so that 

 large tracts, which have now relapsed into deserts, were rendered productive. The great road 

 from Quito to Cuzco, 1,500 miles long, though not fitted for wheel carriages, which were un- 

 known to the Peruvians, was yet a wonderful work, on account of the natural obstacles that 

 were overcome, and the flying bridges that were thrown over the deep ravines. Their struc- 

 tures were composed of immense blocks of stone, enclosing vast spaces, and divided into an 

 infinity of apartments, so that one near Caxamarca is said to be capable of containing 5,000 

 men. The Peruvians had nothing like the Mexican hieroglyphics, but in their quipos or strings, 

 the colors represented objects and the knots their numbers, and, by this contrivance, they were 

 able to preserve a record of events. On the death of one of their Incas, or of any great 

 chief, many of his vassals, and portions of his treasure, were buried with him, and the open- 

 ing of these huacas or tombs has often proved a prize to some European adventurers. 



The descendants of the subjects of the Incas are still the most numerous class in Peru. 

 They have small features, little feet, sleek, coarse, black hair, and scarcely any beard. They 

 have been represented as sunk in apathy and insensibility, but the shy, reserved, and gloomy, 

 though tame aspect which they present, is the fruit of long oppression and accumulated wrongs, 

 They are patient and industrious cultivators, and often manufacture very beautiful fabrics from 

 very simple materials ; but they are apt to indulge in deep potations of chica, a national liquor, 

 made from maize. They still retain the deepest and most mournful recollections of the Inca, 

 and celebrate his death by a sort of rude drama, accompanied by the most melting strains of 

 music. Yet they are nominally converted to Christianity ; that is, they celebrate the festivals 

 of the church, by dancing through the streets with bells fastened to their legs, and drinking 

 enormous quantities of chica. 



Education is little attended to ; but more than under the old government. The ruling reli- 

 gion is the Roman Cathohc Besides the curates, there are many missionaries among the In- 

 dians. These were formerly Jesuits, but they are now Franciscans. 



6. Government. The government is republican, and the form very similar to that of the 

 United States. Since the revolt of the country from Spain the government has undergone 

 many changes. 



7. History. This country was conquered from the Incas, or aboriginal sovereigns, in the 

 16th century, by the Spaniards, under Pizarro and Almagro. It remained in subjection to 

 Spain for some time after the revolt of the other South American provinces. The indepen- 

 dence of the country was declared in 1821. 



CHAPTER LXII. BOLIVIA. 



PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



1. Boundaries and Extent. Bolivia lies between 11° and 25° S. latitude, and between 

 58° and 70° W. longitude. It is bounded on the N. and W. by Peru ; on the S. W. by the 

 Pacific ; on the S. by Chili and Buenos Ayres ; and on the E. and N. E. by Brazil. Its 

 length from N. N. E. to S. S. W. is about 1,140 miles. Area, 410,000 square miles. 



2. Mountains. The great chain of the Andes divides itself between the 14th and 20th de- 

 gree of south latitude, into two longitudinal branches, which are separated from each other by a 

 great valley, or plateau, 13,032 feet above the level of the sea, and whose northern extremity 

 comprises the lake of Titicaca. The western chain separates the bed of that lake and the val- 

 ley of Desaguadero from the coast of the South Sea, and presents a great number of active 

 volcanoes. The eastern chain separates the plateau from the immense plain of Chiquitos and 

 the Moxos. Many of its peaks surpass 20,000 feet in height. The summits of Sorata and 

 Ilimani, covered with eternal snow, surpass all the gigantic peaks of Ecuador. The Sorata 



