SOUTH-AMERICA.

Extent. THE southern half of the western continent reaches from cape Isidro, in lat. 54° S. to cape de la Vela, in lat. 12° N.; and from cape St. Roque, in lon. 34 30, to cape Blanco, in lon. 81° W. Its length from N. to S. is 4570 miles; its greatest breadth is 3230.

Boundaries. On the N. is the Caribbean sea and the Atlantic; on the E. the Atlantic; on the S. the straits of Magellan; on the W. the Pacific; and on the N. W. the isthmus of Darien, which connects it with North-America.

Divisions. The whole of this extensive country, except that o cupied by the aborigines, was lately divided into colonial governments, belonging to Spain, Portugal, Holland, and France. The possessions of Holland and France have fallen to England. Portugal is removed to Brazil, and the province has become, and probably will continue, the mother country. The present divisions of the country are as follows:

1. Viceroyalty of New-Granada.

2. Captaingeneralship of Venezuela.

3. English Guiana, including 1. Dutch Guiana or Surinam 2. French Guiana or Cayenne.

4. Viceroyalty of Peru, belonging to Spain.

5. Amazonia.

6. Kingdom of Brazil, including Portuguese Guiana,

7. Viceroyalty of Buenos Aires belonging to Spain. 8. Captaingeneralship of Chili

9. Patagonia.

The line of demarcation between the Spanish and Portuguese territories, as well as the boundary between Portuguese Guiana and Cayenne, are given at large in the Universal Geography, Vol. I. p. 696, 697.

NEW-GRANADA.

Extent. NEW-GRANADA reaches on the Pacific from Punta Gorda, in about lat. 9° N. to the mouth of Rio Tumbez, in lat. 3 25 S. On the Caribbean it extends from the mouth of Rio Dorados, in about 10° N. and 82 30 W. to the mountains of Santa Martha, a little W. of lake Maracaibo, in lon. 72 30 W. The territory is about 1080 miles long, from N. to S. and has an average breadth of

about 280.

Boundaries. On the N. lies the gulf of Darien and the Caribbean sea; on the N. E. and E. Venezuela, including Spanish Guiana, and Portuguese Guiana; on the S. Peru; on the W. the Pacific; and on the N. W. Guatemala.

Divisions. New-Granada is subdivided into 24 provinces. One of these, Veragua, is in North-America; and two others, Panama and Darien, are on the isthmus. These three compose Terra Firma proper. The following are the provinces, beginning at the N. W.

History. New-Grenada originally constituted a part of Peru. Two audiences were erected in 1547, one at Panama, the other at Santa Fe de Bogota and the territories under the jurisdiction of both were constituted a captaingeneralship. Quito was made the seat of an audience in 1563, but the territories subject to it still belonged to Peru. In 1718 New-Granada was erected into a viceroyalty; Quito and Venezuela were annexed to it, and the audiences of Panama and Quito were abolished. Four years after these two audiences were restored, the viceroyalty was abolished, and every thing placed on its former footing. In 1739 the territories dependent on the three audiences of Panama, Santa Fe, and Quito were again erected into a viceroyalty.

A congress, assembled at Carthagena, in November, 1811, declared the country independent. It proved an empty declaration.

Religion. There is an archbishop at Santa Fe, and bishops at Carthagena, Panama, Santa Martha, Popayan, and Quito. Missions are established at various places in the interior; but we have no particular account of these.

Government. All the provinces were under the government of the viceroy, who resided at Santa Fe, and had similar powers with the viceroy of Mexico. The jurisdictions of the three audiences have been mentioned.

Population. The population of New-Granada has been estimat ed by some at 600,000, by others at 1,000,000. Probably, accord. ing to Humboldt, it does not fall short of 2,000,000.

Manners and Customs. Of the whites, the Chapetones, or Europeans are not numerous. Most of them formerly returned to Spain after acquiring a competent fortune. The families of the Creoles compose the landed interest. The morals of both sexes are de plorably licentious. Indolence is also a general characteristic.

The Indians in the towns are generally mechanics. Many of them are compelled to work on the plantations.

The Negroes are found principally in the northern part of the country. The different grades of a mixed breed are much more numerous than the genuine negroes.

Cities. SANTA FE DE BOGOTA stands in lat. 4 9 N. lon. 73 $6 W. on a beautiful and spacious plain, about three fourths of a mile from the banks of the Funza, a tributary of the Magdalena, and 35 from its mouth. It lies a' considerable distance east of the western Andes. The streets are broad straight, and regular, and the houses generally handsome. The cathedral is magnificent and richly endowed. There are besides 3 parish churches, 8 monasteries, 4 nunneries, and 1 hospital. The number of inhabitants is about 30,000. There are numerous hamlets and Indians in the neighborhood.

QUITO stands on the eastern acclivity of Pichinca, a lofty eminence of the western Cordillera of the Andes, about 130 miles from the Pacific, in lat. 0 13 33 N. and in lon. 77 55 W. The site of the town is very uneven and irregular. The principal square is very spacious, and has an elegant fountain in the centre. The houses are all of one story, and generally have balconies towards the street; but the doors and windows are low and narrow. The inhabitants are about 65,000 in number, of whom a sixth are whites, a third mestizos, a third Indians, and the rest blacks of the various grades.

CARTHAGENA stand in lat. 10 25 48 N. and in lon. 75 21 14 W. on a large bay 24 leagues from north to south, defended from every wind, with a sufficient depth of water, and good anchorage. The site of the town is a sandy island, artificially connected, at the west end, with the main. The streets are straight, broad, uniform, and well paved. The houses are chiefly of stone, of one story, and have balconies and lattices of wood. The churches and convents are well built and numerous. It contains about 15,000 inhabitants. They depend wholly on the clouds for fresh water. Many of them are afflicted with the leprosy.

PANAMA stands on the S. side of the isthmus, in lat. 8 57 48 N. and lon. 80 21 W. It has a wall of freestone, and was formerly supplied with a garrison. The population is about 10,000. The harbor is formed by several islands, and is safe. Ships only come within 3 leagues of the city. Formerly it was a place of great

GUAYAQUIL. stands on the west bank of the river Guayaquil, in lat. 2 11 21 S. about 6 leagues from its mouth. The houses are of wood, and are large and beautiful. The population is about 10,000 souls. The river is navigable to the town for vessels of any size, and affords the best harbor on the coast.

POPAYAN stands in lat. 2 50 N. and lon. 75 50 W. on the east side of a mountain of considerable height, called M, from the resemblance it bears to that letter. The population is stated by Ulloa, at between 20,000 and 25,000. The Molino, issuing from the mountain of M, runs through the city. "

PORTO BELLO stands on a fine harbor, on the Caribbean sea, in lat. 9 33 5 N. lon. 79 50 20 W. It was formerly a place of considerable note, but has greatly declined.