Ch.X. south AMERIC^A. 107 



CHAP. X. 



Tradt and Commerce of Lima. 



TH E city of Lima could not have attained t6 

 fuch fpiendor, if, befides being the capital of 

 Peru, it had not been alfo the general ilaple of the 

 kingdom. But as it is the refidence of the govern- 

 ment and chief tribunals, fo it is alfo the common 

 fa6lory for commerce of every kind, and the center 

 of the products and manufadures of the other pro- 

 vinces, together with thofe of Europe, brought over 

 in the galleons or regifter fhips ; and from hence 

 they are dillributed through the vaft extent of thefc 

 kingdoms, whofe wants are fiipplied from Lima, as 

 their common mother. At the head of this commerce 

 is the tribunal del Confulado, which appoints com^ 

 milTaries to refide in the other cities of its dependen- 

 cies, extending through all Peru. 



All the wealth of the fouthern provinces, is 

 brought to Lima, where it is embarqued on board 

 the fleet, which, at the time of the galleons fails 

 from Callao, to Panama. The proprietors of the 

 treafure, commit it to the merchants of Lima, Vv'ho 

 traffic at the fair with this and their ov/n llock. 

 The fame fleet returns to the harbour of Paita, 

 where the European merchandizes of value purchaled 

 at Porto Beilo fair are landed, in order to avoid the 

 delay of failing to Callao, and lent by land to Lima, 

 on droves of mules ; but thofe of lefs value are carried 

 thither by the fame fhips. 



On the arrival of thefe commodities at Lima, 

 the merchants remit to their correfpondents fuch 

 parts as they had a commifllon to purchaie, referving 

 the reft in ware-houfes to difpofe of on their own ac- 

 count to traders, who at this time ixion to Lima, 

 4 



