264 EXTENT AND BOUNDARIES It extends from the 16th to the 45th degree of south latitude; from the left margin of the lake Titicaca, which lies between the two cordilleras of Peru, on the north, and to the coast of Patagonia on the south. It is bounded on the west by the viceroyalty of Peru on the Pacific Ocean, as far as the coast of Atacama, at the 23d degree of south latitude, and by Chili, from which it is separated by the mountains of the Andes. On the east and north, it is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, by the dominions of Brazil, and by the establishments of the missions of Paraguay, Chiquitos, and by the independent Indians of the river Amazon, and of its borders. The whole forms an extent of territory which stretches over twenty-nine degrees of latitude, embracing every variety of climate, productions, and people. It rises, toward the west, into a lofty and elevated soil of mountains, of which the bases terminate in immense plains, extending to the Atlantic Ocean. This region, commencing under the tropics of Capricorn, at the foot of the mountains of Jujui, is divided principally into Upper Peru and Rio de la Plata, properly so called. Peru comprehends the provinces of Potosi, Charcas or La Plata, OF BUENOS AYRES. 265 Cochabamba, La Paz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra or Puno, Moxos, and Chiquitos; and the Rio de la Plata includes Buenos Ayres, Banda Oriental, Entre Rios, Corrientes, Paraguay, Cordova, Mendoza or Cuyo, Salta, and Tucuman.* The provinces of the Banda Oriental, Corrientes, Entre Rios, and Paraguay, have withdrawn from the union, and each has elected its own petty, but yet independent government. The cordiality among any of those separated states is not great; but we question whether it was more cordial among the great, but withal insignificant states of ancient Greece. Thus to speak of Greece may not be classical, but it is certainly true. When we hear the high toned Thucydides making a display of a Grecian navy, that might have been stowed away, men and all, in the hold of one of our seventy-fours, we may surely be allowed, as well as he, to give a little importance to South American history. The river Plate was so named by Solis, who, in 1515, was the first to enter it. He was followed, some years afterwards, by Sebastian Cabot, who, ascending it above its junction with the Paraná, *Upper Peru, which formerly constituted part of the provinces of the River Plate, is now the independent republic of Bolivia. VOL. II. N 266 THE CITY OF BUENOS AYRES. found silver ornaments among the natives, and, hence its name of Rio de la Plata, or river of silver. The discoverers of two of the mightiest rivers of the world, Orellana of the Amazon, and Solis of the Plate, though both lost their lives in their arduous pursuit, have failed to obtain even the posthumous honor of having those streams run under the names of their first enterprising navigators. Not so Magellan; for not only does that strait go under his name, but we are told by a Spanish poet, that "Magellanes. Señor, fuè el primer hombre, Que pasando por este estrecho, le dio nombre." The situation of Buenos Ayres is anything but commanding, and sadly disappoints one after coming off a long voyage, and sailing up so splendid a stream. Standing on the most slightly elevated ridge, a few spires, domes, and large convents alone break in upon the monotony of the scene. The space occupied by the city is immense, almost every house having a court-yard, many two, and some three, by which you enter to the groundfloor apartments. But the buildings, though whitewashed, are monotonous in their architecture, THE CITY OF BUENOS AYRES. 267 and till within the last few years, were comfortless inside. The streets intersect each other at right angles, forming regular squares of 150 yards in length on each front; and this uniformity (which is far from pleasing) is only interrupted by two or three squares without the least pretention to architectural beauty, except perhaps the Plaza Mayor, or great square. The number of inhabitants, including from three to four thousand foreigners, is about eighty thousand, and it comprises several castes, varying in colour, from the swarthy negro and mulatto to the fair European, and his pure-blooded descendants.* The foundation of the city, as compared with the first discovery of the river Plate, may be called recent. It was not till 1580, that Juan de Garay, having passed up the rivers Paraná and Paraguay, returned with a handful of seventy followers, and after many difficulties, and one desperate engagement with the native Querandis, routed, slaughtered them, and, in the name of the King of Spain, laid the foundation of the present * We have here spoken of what Buenos Ayres was in 1815; and the many improvements which have since taken place in it we shall have to notice at a future time. 268 TRADE AND POPULATION. city of Buenos Ayres. It has grown in rank, wealth, and importance every year since; and but for the restrictive policy of Spain, (though in the present case a little relaxed,) the capital of the River Plate would have been one of the most important cities of the new world. It is the largest emporium of which we know for hides and tallow; and were its natural advantages developed, the feuds of the country stilled, and the governments at peace with one another, Buenos Ayres would be the natural port of transit to and from most of the provinces on the eastern side of the Andes. The following statistical accounts may perhaps appear tiresome to some of our readers, but we cannot, for all that, abandon the plan of our work; which is, to give information on Buenos Ayres in particular, and on the provinces of the River Plate generally. The population of Buenos Ayres has already been stated at about eighty thousand. Their traffic is chiefly in hides and tallow; and the importations are British and other manufactures in return. Of our exportations, by the official account, as given by Sir Woodbine Parish, in 1837, the |