West of the city of Buenos Ayres is a vast plain or pampa extending south into Patagonia. It is 1500 miles long, and from the ocean to the Andes 500 broad.

Indians. Independent tribes of Indians occupy the country watered by the Salado, Vermejo, Pilcomayo, and the head branches of the Madeira. This tract consists of vast plains extending from the Paraguay on the east to the mountains on the west.

Productions. Cattle and the precious metals are the staple productions. The vast plains and pampas are covered with immense herds of horses, mules and cattle; and the provinces along the Andes abound with gold and silver. Mining and raising cattle are the principal business of the inhabitants, to the neglect of agriculture, although the soil is fertile and would yield wheat, Indian corn, tobacco, &c. in abundance.

Population. The population is estimated at 2,000,000, of which number 700,000 are civilized Indians. The independent Indians are not included: their number is unknown.

Lake. Lake Titicaca is in the northwest corner of the country between two ridges of the Andes. It is 240 miles in circumference, and has several islands, one of which was the residence of Manco Capac, the first of the incas, and the founder of the Peruvian monarchy.

Chief Towns. Buenos Ayres is on the west bank of the La Plata, 180 miles from the ocean. The houses are built of brick. The population is 60,000, one half of whom are whites, and the rest Indians, negroes, &c. The city is celebrated for the pleasantness and salubrity of its climate.

Montevideo is on the east bank of the La Plata, 90 miles from its mouth. Population, 10,000. Santa Fe is at the confluence of the Salado with the Parana, and has 6000 inhabitants. Corrientes is at the confluence of the Paraguay with the Parana. Assumption is on the east bank of the Paruguay, a little above the mouth of the Pilcomayo, and about 1000 miles from the sea. Large vessels ascend from the ocean as far as this place.

Potosi, famous for its rich silver mines, is on the Andes, near the sources of the Pilcomayo, in about 20° S.

lat. It contains 70,000 inhabitants, besides 30,000 slaves employed in the mines. Salta is nearly in the centre of the country. It carries on a great trade in mules with Peru. Tucuman is 160 miles S. of Salta. Mendoza

is at the foot of the Andes, near the southwest corner of the country.

Government. Buenos Ayres formerly belonged to Spain. In 1816, it declared itself independent, and established a republican government.

Education. Previous to the revolution, education and learning were discouraged; but now schools are established, and books imported without restriction.

Character. A large portion of the population are herdsmen, who lead a solitary life on the great plains, being constantly employed in tending immense herds of cattle. They are the most expert horsemen in the world.

Mines. Gold or silver mines are found in all the provinces bordering on the Andes. The richest is the silver mine of Potosi, which has been wrought nearly 3 centuries, and yields several millions of dollars annually.

The Indians near Potosi were formerly compelled by the Spaniards to work the mines, which usually destroyed them in the course of 10 or 12 months. For three centuries whole nations perished in this way. Since the declaration of independence this cruel custom has been abolished.

Commerce. The principal exports are gold and silver, hides, beef and tallow. The imports are manufactured goods, principally from Great Britain. The city of Buenos Ayres is the seat of this commerce.

Mules in immense droves are collected every year at Salta from the southern provinces, and thence sent over the Andes to Peru, a distance of 1500 or 2000 miles. Almost all labour and transportation in Peru as well as Buenos Ayres are performed by mules.

CHILI.

Situation. Chili is bounded N. by the desert of Atacama, which separates it from Peru; E. by the Andes.

which separate it from Buenos Ayres; S. by Patagonia; and W. by the Pacific ocean. It is a long and narrow country.

Divisions. The southern part of the country, below lat. 37°, belongs to independent tribes of Indians. The remainder is divided into 22 districts.

Face of the country. The lofty Andes run for more than a thousand miles along the whole eastern boundary of Chili. The country below is made up to a considerable extent of detached vallies, separated from each other by high ridges. The scenery is picturesque and grand.

Rivers. Few countries are so well watered as Chili. The rivers are small, but very numerous. In some parts every valley, and almost every field, can be regularly irrigated from a neighbouring stream. The principal rivers are the Tolten, the Biobio, the Maypo, the Maule, and the Quillota.

Soil and Productions. The southern part of the country is a land flowing with wheat, wine, and oil; cotton and hemp are also cultivated, and cattle are numerous. The northern districts have a dry and barren soil, but are rich in mines of tin, copper, silver and gold.

Climate. In the northern districts it never rains, and never thunders; the dews are scarcely perceptible, the atmosphere is without a cloud and the temperature is delightful. Some parts of this region are well watered by rivers from the Andes and are very fertile.

Volcanoes and Earthquakes. Volcanoes occur among the Andes, at every little interval, along the whole eastern boundary. There are 14 which are in a state of constant eruption. Earthquakes usually occur 3 or 4 times in a year.

Chief Towns. St. Jago, the capital, is on a branch of the Maypo in a beautiful and extensive plain. The houses are of brick, and as in all the cities of Chili, are of only one story, on account of the earthquakes. The population is 46,000.

Conception is on a beautiful bay, which affords a commodious harbour, near the mouth of the river Biobio It has been twice destroyed by earthquakes. Population, 13,000.

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Valparaiso is on the coast, near the mouth of the Quillota, about 100 miles west of St. Jago. It is the most commercial city in Chili. Population, 6500.

Valdivia is on a bay, 180 miles S. of Conception. Its harbour is the safest, and most capacious on the western coast of America. It is very strongly fortified.

Population. The population is 1,200,000, exclusive of independent Indians.

Araucanian Indians. The Araucanian Indians occupy the country between the Biobio and the Tolten. They are brave, warlike, generous, and enthusiastic lovers of liberty. The Spaniards have tried in vain for nearly 3 centuries to subdue them.

Government. Chili was formerly subject to Spain. In 1818 it declared itself independent.

Desert. The desert of Atacama lies between Peru and Chili. It is a dry, sandy plain, 300 miles long, without one living thing upon it either vegetable or animal.

coast, near the south

Islands. Chiloe island on the ern boundary, is 180 miles long. There are many small islands near it. The island of Juan Fernandez is more than 300 miles west of Valparaiso.

PATAGONIA.

Situation. Patagonia is the southern part of South America. It is bounded N. by Chili and Buenos Ayres; E. by the Atlantic; S. by the straits of Magellan, which separate it from Terra del Fuego; and W. by the Pacific.

Face of the country. The Andes pass through the western part. The eastern part is level, consisting of immense pampas or plains which stretch north into Buenos Ayres.

Inhabitants.

The country is inhabited by independent tribes of Indians, about whom very little is known. Some of the tribes are said to be of a gigantic size.

EUROPE.

Situation. Europe is bounded N. by the Frozen ocean E. by Asia; S. by the Mediterranean sea, which separates it from Africa; and W. by the Atlantic ocean. It is the smallest general division of the globe.

Divisions. The principal countries in Europe are,

Seas. The principal seas are, the Mediterranean, Marmora, Black, Azof, North, Baltic, and White.

The Mediterranean sea lies between Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is the largest sea in the world, being 2000 miles long from east to west. The Black sea lies between Europe and Asia. It is northeast of the Mediterranean, and communicates with it through the sea of Marmora. The sea of Azof is northeast of the Black sea, and communicates with it through a narrow strait.

The North sea lies between Great Britain on the west, and Denmark on the east. The Baltic lies between Sweden on the west, and Russia on the east. Prussia and Germany are on the south. The White sea is in the northern part of Russia. It opens into the Frozen ocean.

Channels. The English channel lies between England and France. St. George's channel lies between England and Ireland. The Cattegat, between Denmark and Sweden, and the Skager Rack, between Denmark and Norway, are the channels through which the Baltic communicates with the German ocean.

Straits. The straits of Gibraltar, between Spain and Africa, connect the Mediterranean with the Atlantic. The Dardanelles, between Europe and Asia, connect the Mediterranean with the sea of Marmora. The straits of Constantinople connect the sea of Marmora with the Black sea. The straits of Jenikale connect the Black