312 
TUE EASTERN CHAIN. 
northern hemisphere. The peak of Tolima flat, 4» 46'), 
which IS almost ^iiiiknowii even by name in Europe, and 
w Inch I measured in 1801, is at least 2865 toises high. It 
consequently surpasses Imbabura and Cotocache in the 
table-lauds of Lo.s 
Jir ’ • yo’canos of Popayan, and even the Nevados 
The^Siro/T^^l America, 
nerh^m ' *“ *"*■'" ''esembles Cotapaxi, is 
XevX dc tlie^Sierra 
'Ihe easterii chain, also called the chain of Choco and the 
and A separates the provinces of Popayan 
and Antioqma from those of Barbacoas, Eaposo, and Choco. 
ofthe'c^iT*^!**^ V* elevated, compared to the height 
olistopP.! / fi chains ; it however presents great 
eommunications between the vaUevof Cauca 
mid the shore On its western slope lies the taiiious auri- 
lerous and platinderous land,* which has durin" ao-es yielded 
”oim is fron7t’°®c annually. This alluvial 
nroLctwTo-^ r*"* maximum of 
productneness lies between the parallels of 2° and 6° lat.; 
aImo"rent' towards the north and south, and 
e mtl. T? between If north lat. and the 
we l . t/ *'" f^uriferous soil fills the basin of Cauca, as 
Ch ..r S the Cordillera of 
cVthe /'’"'ctinies nearly GOO toises above the level 
this at least 40 toises.f Platinum (and 
this tact IS worthy of attention) has hitherto been found 
e-ist Choco, and not on the 
cast, notwithstanding the analogy of the fragments of rocks 
rvrste!^e‘’ofl“™'!r'f ^ ““"tries i„ which the 
i Jscuande, the southern limit of Choco r^aenaventura, 
»niy th; Lthf ofTrn*/" '*>« of gold.washings, 
o?Qu,lhn! h P- 18) ; hut I found the 
•wa«-« of Quihchao, on the north of Popayan. to be ii65 toises high. 
