426 



rection as the extremities of the three conti- 

 nents of Africa, Australasia, and America *. 



After the great knot of mountains of Cuzco and 

 Parinacochas, in 14° south latitude, the Andes 

 present a second bifurcation, on the east and west 

 of the Rio Jauja, which throws itself into the 

 Mantaro, a tributary stream of the Apurimac -f\ 

 The eastern chain stretches on the east of 

 Huanta, the convent of Ocopa and Tarma, the 

 western chain, on the west of Castrovireyna, 

 Huaneavelica, Huarocheri, and Yauli. The 

 basin, or rather the lofty table-land which is 

 inclosed by these chains, is nearly half the 

 length of the basin of Chucuito or Titicaca. 

 Two mountains covered with eternal snow, 

 seen from the town of Lima, and which the in- 

 habitants name Toldo de la Nieve, belong to the 

 western chain, that of Huarocheri. 



On the north-west of the vallies of Salca- 

 bamba, in the parallel of the ports of Huaura 

 and Guarmey, between 11° and 10° latitude, 

 the two chains unite in the knot of the Hua- 

 nuco and the Pasco, celebrated for the mines 

 of Yauricocha or Santa Rosa. There rise two 

 peaks of colossal height, the Nevados of Sasa- 



t 



* See above, p. 393. 

 + See le Plan del curso de los Bios Huallaga y Ucayali por 

 don Padre Sobreviela, 1791. The Apurimac forms, con- 

 jointly with the Beni, the Rio Paro, which takes the name 

 of Ucayali; after its confluence with the Rio Pachitea. 



