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Ayres, and Paraguay, is Tucuman. Above Chili is Peru, and above Peru, Granada, reaching up to the Isthmus of Darien.

There are many magnificent cities (chiefly belonging to the Spanish settlements) in South America: among these are

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The Rivers and Mountains of South America are on a scale of the most astonishing grandeur, far exceeding those in any other part of the world.

The great River Maranon, formerly called the River of the Amazons, from its source in lat. 17° among the Andes of Peru, where it is first called the Apurimac, runs from South to North, and afterwards in a direction from West to East, till it falls into the sea, dividing the provinces of Guiana and Brazil. This Monarch of rivers is navigable, for a ship of 500 tons, for a distance of 4500 miles, and receives many mighty streams in its

course; and even where they unite with it, 3500 miles from its mouth, is not less than two miles broad, increasing in depth and breadth till, itself a sea, it falls into the Atlantic. The effect of the tide in this river is perceptible for 600 miles, and at about 200 miles from its mouth it is so broad, that the opposite shore cannot be seen. The Rio de la Plata flows into the Atlantic, and is principally formed by the two streams of the Paraguay and Parana, besides some other very great though less mighty rivers. It rises in the mountains of Brazil, in Lat. 19° N. and is navigated for about 1600 miles. It is so immensely broad near its mouth, that land cannot be discovered on either side from a ship in the middle of the river. The Orinoco is another mighty stream, which is thought to rise in the small Lake of Ipava, 5° 5′ N. Lat. and flows into the Atlantic opposite the island of Trinidad.

The principal Mountains of South America are the Andes, forming a stupendous chain of 4600 miles of the most gigantic mountains in the world. They stretch from Capes Isidro and Pilares, in the Southern extremity of South America, nearly to the Isthmus of Panama, and are generally about 100 miles from the coast of the Pacific, and not less than from 100 to 180 miles in breadth; their highest summits are near the Equator: Chimboraco is 20,280 feet high, or 5000 feet higher than the highest of the Alps; Cotopaxi is 18,000 feet; Pichincha, El Altar, and many others, are not inferior. But it is remarkable that these mountains are themselves seated in immense plains, from 8000 to 10,000 feet above the level of the sea; so that their actual height

from their own bases does not surpass the Alps. Many of these mountains are volcanic, and the province of Quito in particular, is subject to the most dreadful earthquakes, which frequently destroy or swallow up whole cities. The town of Riobamba, at the foot of Chimboraco, containing 9000 inhabitants, was completely overwhelmed by the Peak of Sicalpa, one of the neighbouring mountains falling on it, February 4th, 1797, and not more than 400 persons escaped.

The Islands of South America, in the Pacific, are the Gallipagoes, off the coast of New Granada and Peru, under the Equator. Off the coast. of Chili, in Lat. 34° S. is the island of Juan Fernandez, where Alexander Selkirk supported himself in a life of solitude for four years; whose adventures gave rise to the celebrated tale of Robinson Crusoe. At the bottom of Chili is the large island of Chiloe, 140 miles long, and 40 broad, in the Gulph of Chonas. And at the extremity of South America, is a collection of islands, eleven in number, called Terra del Fuego, or Land of Fire, from the volcanoes there. Their extreme point is called Cape Horn. The Straights of Magellan separate South America from Terra del Fuego. North East of these are the Falkland Isles, which are little better than a morass; below which, to the South East, is Georgia, and, still lower, Sandwich Land, or Southern Thule. These countries are beyond description cold, dreary and desolate.

The religion of South America is chiefly Roman Catholic; except those Indian tribes which are yet unconverted from Paganism.

POLYNESIA.

THE Islands in the Pacific Ocean are comprehended by the best modern geographers, under the name of Polynesia. It may be sufficient to enumerate the chief of these; which from the following sets (See the Map of the World -Eastern Hemisphere): I. East of the Philippine Isles lie the Pellew Isles; and above them, North East, are, II. The Ladrone Isles, about twelve or fourteen in number. East of the Pellew, and South of the Ladrone Isles, are, III. The Carolinas, in number thirty. In the Western Hemisphere are, IV. The Sandwich Islands, the largest of which is Owhyhee, where Captain Cook was killed in February, 1779. Below the Equinoctial, and South East of the Sandwich Islands, are, V. The Marquesas; and below them are, VI. A group of Isles, in number ⚫ about seventy, called the Society Islands, of which Otaheite is the principal. West of these

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are, VII. The Navigator's Isles; and below them are, VIII. The Friendly Isles. West of these, IX. The New Hebrides, Caledonia, New Zealand, &c. belonging to the division of Australasia. The remaining parts of the Globe are either unexplored, or omitted as of less importance in a summary survey like the present.

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