174 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



The road is rough, up hills and over gullies, without anything 

 to relieve the eye from its barrenness. Scarcely a bird is to be 

 seen ; in fact, since our being here, I have seen only three or 

 four buzzards, a half dozen gulls, and a lone pelican. Instinct 

 or experience teaches, that there is nothing to invite either 

 man or animal — but what will not man undergo for gold ! 



The two leagues were passed, and, well wearied with our 

 excursion, we returned on board at sunset. 



CHAPTER II. 



Historical sketch of Bolivia — Its productions — Coca. 



On the 5th of August 1825, Potosi, Charcas, Cochabamba, 

 and Santa Cruz, formerly constituting Upper Peru, declared 

 themselves independent of Ferdinand VII., and on the 11th 

 of August, the Assembly decreed that the Republic should 

 bear the title of Bolivia. They date the birth day of the 

 nation from the 6th of August 1825, the day on which was 

 gained the victory of Junin. 



On the 25th of May, 1826, a Congress was installed at Chu- 

 quisaca, and a committee appointed to examine the Constitu- 

 tion proposed by Bolivar. They reported favorably, and in 

 conformity to its principles, a President was chosen for life. 

 The choice fell on General Sucre, who accepted the office for 

 only two years, on the condition that two thousand Colombian 

 troops should be permitted to remain with him. Sucre declin- 

 ed holding the presidency for a longer period than two years, 

 on the grounds of having been educated a soldier ; and having 

 spent the greater part of his life in the field, he was unfit to be 

 the civic chief of their government.* 



* Memoirs of General Miller. Vol. II. 



