Cn.XIlL SOUTH AMERICA. 145 



The city of la Plata has alfo an iiniverfity, de- 

 dicated to St. Francis Xavier, the chairs of which 

 are filled indifferently either by fecular clergy or lay- 

 men ; but the redlor is always a Jefuit. Here are 

 alfo two other colleges in which ledures of all kinds 

 are read. That of St. John is under the direflion of 

 the Jefuits ; while the archbifhop nominates to that 

 of St. Chriftopher, which is a feminary. 



Two leagues from Plata runs the river Cachimayo 

 along the plains, having on its banks feveral plea- 

 fant feats of the inhabitants ; and about fix in the 

 uoad leading to Potofi, is the river of Philco-mayo, 

 which is pafled over by a large itone bridge. During 

 fome.,months of the year this river furnilhes the city 

 of Plata with great plenty of delicious fifh ; among 

 which is one called the Dorado, * which generally 

 weighs between twenty and twenty-five pounds. The 

 other provifions, as bread, flefli and fruits, are 

 brought from the adjacent provinces. 



The chief tribunal in Plata is that of the Audi- 

 ence, ereded in the year 1559, whofe prefident 

 has the titles of governor and captain-general of 

 the province, exclufive of the government of Santa 

 Cruz de la Sierra, Tucuman, Paraguay and Buencs 

 Ayres, which are independent, and in military cafes 

 abfolute. It has alfo a Fifcal, a prote6lor-fifcal of 

 the Indians, and two Supernumerary auditor^. 



The magiftracy or corporation, as in all other 

 cities of this country, confifts of regidores, who are 

 perfons of the firft diftindion, with the Corregidor 

 at their head, and from them are annually chofen 

 two ordinary Alcaldes, for maintaining order and 

 the police. Plata was ereded into a bifliopric in 1551, 

 the place having then the title of city ; and in the year 

 1608 was raifed to a metropolis. Its chapter confifts 



* This is a larger fpecies of tlie Dolphin, which, witjiout 

 plenty of good fauce, is very dry eating. A. 



Vql. II. L of 



