Ch. III. SOUTH AMERICA. 29 



fummer in Valles; in the former it rains, while 

 in the latter the fun darts a violent heat, and the 

 fouth winds are fcarcc felt. From June the waters 

 bepin to decreafe, and in November or December the 

 rivers are at their lowed ebb, or quite dry ; and this 

 is the winter feafon in Vailes, and the fummer 

 in the mountains. So remarkable a difference is 

 there in the temperature of the air, tho' at fo fmall 

 a diilance. 



CHAP. III. 



Account of theCify of Lima^ the Capital Peru* 



FORTUiTOUS events may fometimes, by their 

 happy confequences, be clafled among premedi- 

 tated defigns. Such was the unforefeen caufe which 

 called us to Peru \ for otherwife the hiftory of our 

 voyage v/ould have been deprived of a great many 

 remarkable and inft:ru6live particulars \ as our obfcr- 

 vations would have been limited to the province of 

 Quito. But by this invitation of the vice-roy of 

 Peru, we are now enabled to lead the reader into 

 that large and luxuriant field, the fertile province of 

 Lima, and the fplendid city of that name, fojuftly 

 made the capital of Peru, and the queen of all the 

 cities in South America. It will alfo appear that cur 

 work would have fuffered a great imperfedlion, and 

 the reader confequently difappointed in finding na 

 account of thofe magnificent particulars, v/hich his 

 curiofity had doubtleis promifed itfelf, from a de- 

 fcription of this famous city, and an accurate know- 

 ledge of the capital province. Nor would it have 

 btren any fmall mortification to ourfeives, to have 

 loft the opportunity of contemplating thofe noble 

 objedis, which fo greatly increafe the value of our 

 work, though already enriched v/iih fuch aftronomical 



obfcrvations 



