530 



their whole length, a continued chain near the 

 shore (the Andes and the Cordillera of Venezu- 

 ela)., while the eastern coast presents masses of 

 more or less lofty mountains only between the 

 12° and 39° of south latitude. In this space of 

 360 leagues in length, the system of the moun- 

 tains of Brazil corresponds geognostically in its 

 form and position, with the Andes of Chili and 

 Peru. Its most considerable portion lies between 

 the parallels 15° and 22°, opposite the Andes of 

 Potosi and la Paz, but its mean height is five 

 toises less, and cannot even be compared with 

 that of the mountains of Parime, Jura, and 

 Auvergne. The principal direction of the Bra- 

 zilian chains, where they attain the height of 

 four to five hundred toises, is from south to 

 north, and from south-south-west to north- 

 north-east; but, between 13° and 19° the chains 

 are considerably enlarged, and at the same time 

 lowered towards the west. The ridges and 

 ranges of hills seem to advance beyond the 

 land straits which separate the sources of the 

 Rio Araguay, Parana, Topayos, Paraguay, 

 Guapore, and Aguapehy, in 63° of longitude. 

 The western widening of the Brazilian groupe, 

 or rather the undulations of the soil in the 

 Campos Parecis, corresponding with the coun- 

 terforts of Santa Cruz, of Sierra, and Beni*, 



* Vol. vi ; p. 421, 431 , 



