Ch.III^ south AMERICA. 



liave derived Lima. Rimac is the naTie by which 

 both the valley and the river are ftill called. This 

 appellation is derived from an idol to which the native 

 Indians ufed to offer facriiice, as did alfo the Yncas, 

 after they had extended their empire hither ; and as it 

 was fuppofed to return anfwer to the prayers addrefled 

 to it, they called it by way of diftindlion Rimac, or^ 

 he who fpeaks. Lima, according to feveral obferva- 

 tions we made for that purpofe, itands in the latitude 

 of 12" 2'3i"S. and its longitude from the meridian 

 of Teneriffe is 299? 27' The variation of the 



,needle is 9" 2' ^o" eafterly. 



Its fituation is one of the moH advantageous thas 

 can be imagined for being in the center of that fpa-^ 

 cious valley^ it commands the whole without any 

 difficulty. Northward, tho' at a confidcrable diflancc^ 

 is the Cordillera, or chain of the Andes ; from whence 

 fome hills projedt into the valley, the neareft of which 

 to the city are thofe of St. Chriftopher, and Aman- 

 caes. The perpendicular height of the former, ac- 

 cording to a geometrical meniliration performed by 

 Don George Juan, and M. de laCondamine in 1737, 

 is i34toifes; but father Fevillee, makes it 136 toifcs 

 and one foot, which difference doubtlefs proceeds from 

 not having meafured with equal exadncfs, the bafe on 

 which both founded their calculations. The height 

 of the Amancaes, is little lefs than the former, and 

 fituated about a quarter of a league from the city. 



The river, which is of the fame name, waflies 

 the walls of Lima, and when not increafed by the 

 torrents from the mountains is eafily forded ; but at 

 other times, befides the increafe of its breadth, its 

 depth and rapidity render fording impoffible ; and 

 accordingly a very elegant and fpacious flone bridge 

 is built over it, having at one end a gate, the 

 beautiful architec'^lure of which is equal to the other 

 parts of this ufeful flru6lure. This gate forms the 

 entrance into the city, and_ leads to the grand fquare, 



which 



