P E 
arftic Circle beyond the limits of Peru before they dif- 
charge their waters. Now this want of moifture of courfe 
prevents that dilution and wafliing-away of the faline 
particles which is detrimental to the manures of our own 
and other wet climates. It is faid that the quantity of 
this manure ufed by the Peruvians is very final 1 , and is 
minutely divided ; but.that its effefts on vegetation, par¬ 
ticularly in regard to the capjicums, is aftonifliing. The 
*lack of rain in this diftrift is in fome meafure compen¬ 
sated by the fall of very heavy dews during the night. 
The medium heat of Lower Peru throughout the year is 
64°, and the thermometer rarely rifes to 75 0 . Thunder 
and lightning are unknown. Moll: of the tropical plants 
flourilh here.. The plantain, banana, pine-apple, i'ugar- 
cane, vine, cocoa, olive, coffee, and cotton, as well as the 
molt delicious fruits, fome, fuch as the chiremoya and the 
frutilla, peculiar to the country, arrive at great perfeftion. 
The next divifion of Peru confifts of that range of the 
Andes neared to the Pacific Ocean, commencing generally 
with hills of moderate elevation, but in fome parts with 
bold projecting and abrupt precipices. The Tides of thefe 
hills are covered with forells, rendered almoft impene¬ 
trable by the numerous parafitical plants which twine 
round the lofty trees ; and, we meet with acacias, mango- 
trees, arborefcent brooms, and ferns 5 aloes and other 
Succulent plants ; cedars, cotton or Cuba trees of gigantic 
magnitude, many kinds of ebony and other ufeful woods, 
many fpecies of palms, and the maria, a tree of enormous 
fize, ufed in lhip-building. The valleys between thefe 
hills afford mod of the trees which are natives of the 
tropics; few of them are well calculated for the purpofes 
of building. 
This didrift, called Higher Peru , commencing at the 
termination of the fands on the fhore, continues increafing 
gradually in height towards the eadward, till the ridge of 
the Andes or the Cordilleras is attained. The line of 
perpetual fnow is about 14,000 feet above the level of the 
lea, and from that line upwards vegetation neceflarily 
ceafes; below it, the plants, by regular gradations, diS- 
piay the nature of the climate, and its adaptation to the 
various families of vegetables; and, in different parts, 
exhibit every fpecies of produftion which can be found, 
from the dwarf plants of Lapland to the odoriferous fpices 
of Sumatra ; but extenfive and fertile plains occur at 
9000 feet above the level of the fea. 
This portion of Peru contains the fources of thofe vad 
rivers wbidh traverfe the whole continent of South 
America. Their dreams, for the mod part, run to the 
Atlantic Ocean. The few’ that run to the Pacific are of 
Short courfe, and do not yield copious fupplies. 
This mountainous diftrift is the chief feat of the mi¬ 
neral wealth of Peru. The mines are, for the mod part, 
fituated at great elevations, and confequently in a climate 
fo feverely cold as to be unfavourable both to the health 
of the labourers, and to the raifing food for their fub- 
Sfftence. The moll abundant filver mines, thofe of Pafco 
and Guancavelica, are between 13,000 and 14,000 feet 
above the level of the fea. Baron Humboldt afl'erts, that 
beds of coal have been found near Guanaco, at an eleva¬ 
tion of 14,700 feet above the level of the fea; and foflil 
Shells at the height of 14,120 feet, where they are alfo 
accompanied with fanddone; but granite is fcarcely 
known in Peru. 
The third didrift of Peru commences on the eadern 
fummit of the Andes, and proceeds eadward till it reaches 
the territories of Portugal, towards their northern part; 
and the provinces of La Plafa, or Buenos Ayres, towards 
the fouth. The defcent from the Andes, on the eadern, 
is much more abrupt than on their wedern fide. Thex¬ 
terminate in vad plains called fometimes Pampas del Sa¬ 
cramento, or more ufually, colleftively, Colonna, or the 
Land of the Midions. The Jefuits fucceeded in collefting 
in villages many of the rude inhabitants of this country; 
and, according to the relation of one of that body. 
Father Girval, the tribes are numerous, fmall, and fcatter- 
R U. 741 
ed; with as many various languages as tribes, and dif¬ 
fering much from each other in the degree of civilization 
to which they had attained. Thefe Pampas are repre- 
fented as being covered with trees and verdure; and 
yielding balfams, oils, gums, refills, cinnamon, cocoa, 
cafcarilla, and many valuable drugs, fpices, and other 
rare productions. The trees are lofty, and form impene¬ 
trable foreds, in which wander all the animals peculiar 
to the torrid climate of America. The heat is exceffive, 
and accompanied with humid fogs. 
Amidd the other circtimdances which didinguidi Peru, 
we have to mention the mod terrific earthquakes. Theie 
are frequently felt in every part, and are fometimes ac¬ 
companied with mod extenfive and fatal effefts. The 
lofty chain of the Andes is a colleftion of volcanos, fome 
in condant aftivity, others occasionally ejefting inflamma- 
ble fubdances; while there are many whole fires, in the 
lapfe of ages, feein to have been burnt out. 
DISCOVERY and CONQUEST of PERU. 
To the dauntlefs and perfevering fpirit of three Spanidi 
adventurers of the Sixteenth century we are indebted 
for the difcovery of Peru. Their names were Francifco 
Pizarro, Diego de Ahnagro, and Hernando Luque. 
Pizarro, however, has the chief glory of the difcovery. 
The talents of Ahnagro were exerted chiefly in failing to 
his aflociate with fupplies and reinforcements. The 
part which Luque performed was that of furnishing 
money, with which the double employment of pried and 
fchoolmafter had amply furniftied him. The lad was 
however not the lead efficient agent in the difcovery, 
fince Pizarro, a badard (and in early life a fwine-feeder), 
and Ahnagro a foundling, could not have railed the 
funds requisite for fo arduous an undertaking without 
his abidance. 
Pizarro fet fail from Panama on the 14th of November, 
1524, with a Angle Ship and 112 men ; and, fo little was 
he acquainted with the peculiarities of the climate, that 
he Spent two years in failing from Panama to the northern 
extremity of Peru, a voyage which is now frequently 
performed in a fortnight. He landed, and found that 
the wealth of the country was as great as he imagined ; 
and that the refiliance he was likely to meet in endeavour¬ 
ing to poflefs himfelf of it would be full as considerable. 
At 'ftimbcz, a place about three degrees fouth of the 
line, Pizarro and his companions leaded their eyes with 
the firll view of the opulence and civilization of the Pe¬ 
ruvian empire. This place was distinguished foritsdatelv 
temple, and a palace of the incas, or fovereigns of the 
country. But what chiedy attrafted their notice was 
fuch a Show of gold and Silver, not only in the ornaments 
of their perfons and temples, but in feveral veffels and 
u ten Si Is for common ufe, as left no room to doubt that 
they abounded to profusion there. Having explored the 
country fufficiently to Satisfy his own mind, Pizarro pro¬ 
cured two of their llamas, or tame cattle, to which the 
Spaniards gave the name of Sheep, fome veSTels of gold 
and diver, and two young men whom he intended to 
bring up as interpreters ; and with thefe be returned to 
Panama towards the dole of the third year from the 
time of his departure. No adventurer or the age Suf¬ 
fered hardfliips or encountered dangers which equalled 
thofe to which he was expofed, during this long period. 
The patience with which he endured the one, and the 
fortitude with which he furmounted the other, are faid to 
exceed whatever is recorded even in the hidory of the 
New World, where fo many romantic difplays of thofe 
virtues occur. But neither Pizarro nor his alfociates 
were deterred from the profecution of their fcherpe. 
The confederacy of the threeadventurers had originally 
been fanftioned by Pedrarias, the governor of Panama ; 
but, cold and cautious, he now refilled further aflidance. 
With his charafteribic boldnefs, Pizarro repaired to the 
court of Spain; and condufted his fu it with fo much ad- 
drefs, that he obtained from Charles (king of Spain and 
emperor 
