tion would be at about 400 miles from the Atlantic, and about 260 from the Pacific. About 15 miles of the river Atrato, or rather the Quito, which flows into the Atrato, would require but few locks, as the current of the river is only, in the dry season, about one mile per hour. But twenty miles of the St. Juan would require locking, leaving an intervening space of level land of four miles and a half to be cut through. The rivers Atrato, Quito, and St. Juan de Chirambira, are free from obstructions until we reach the points where the locking becomes necessary; and there is depth enough on the Atlantic side for vessels drawing seven, and on the Pacific twenty feet of water. The rivers flow through a country abounding with forests of mahogany, dye-woods, and other valuable timber. The mouth of the Atrato is obstructed by a bar, upon which there is only seven feet of water; but it is believed that means may be devised by which the obstruction may be either wholly or partially removed.

Nature seems to have designed this for the passage. The Andes are here for a moment lost, and in obedience to the will of Providence and the wants of man, seem to have defiled, that commerce may march from the old world to the new. It is a fact no less curious than true, that a canal did formerly exist in this spot. About the year 1745, a priest of Citira, with the assistance of the Indians, opened this same communication, known by the name of the Raspadura canal, through which loaded canoes passed; but the jealous policy of the Spanish government caused it to be closed; and prohibited, under severe penalties, any attempt to re-open it. The remains of this canal are visible to the present hour, and the fact is mentioned by Humboldt, Bonnycastle, and Robinson. We derive this information from a gentleman now in this city, [New-York,] who has resided twelve years in Colombia, and who has travelled over every part of the route from sea to sea. The utmost confidence may therefore be reposed in his statements; he has, moreover, constructed a map in which the entire tract of the country is accurately laid down.

In 1821, the same gentleman applied to the government of Colombia for permission to open this communication at his own expense, with exclusive privileges for 100 years. The congress passed a vote in favour of the application, but it was objected to by Bolivar, on the ground that it might afford facilities to the enemy. The applicant was, however, desired to renew his proposals at the peace, for a term somewhat less than 100 years, which he is now about to do; and nothing, we believe, will defeat his object, but the fact of the government undertaking the business itself, which is not improbable."

During the year 1825, this route was examined by an agent

employed for the purpose, by a company of merchants in the city of New-York; whose report of its practicability, it is understood, was favourable.

The river Chagres falls into the Atlantic, at a town of the same name, 44 miles west of Porto Bello, and is navigable as far as Cruzes, within 15 miles of Panama. The Palmar and Zulia are

the chief tributaries of Lake Maracaibo; the other considerable and navigable rivers are the Tocuyo, the Aroa, the Yaracay, Tuy, and Unare, all of which run to the north, and discharge their waters into the Atlantic ocean; and most of which are accommodated with harbours, and some of them are navigable a considerable distance. In addition to the St. Juan, the Pacific border has the Guayaquil, which empties into the gulf of that name, the Verd, the Mira, and many smaller rivers.

Climate, soil, and productions.-The climate of Colombia, although the whole country lies geographically within the torrid zone, like Mexico, possesses all the characteristics which diversify the three zones into which the earth is divided. With respect to climate, the tract of country adjacent to its maritime border, both on the Atlantic and Pacific, is invariably hot, and generally unhealthy to strangers from northern climates. The soil is luxuriant wherever it is sufficiently watered by rivers or periodical rains, and produces abundantly all the natural and agricultural productions common to tropical regions; sugar, cotton, coffee, cocoa, indigo, tobacco, and the various kinds of dye-woods abundantly reward the hand of industry, and constitute the staple productions of this region.* The extensive vallies lying on the borders of the great rivers, have a climate somewhat more temperate, affording the greatest variety of productions, and supporting immense herds of cattle on their verdant savannas. Hence, hides have become one of the great staples of the country, and are exported in great quantities. In the elevated vallies, at the height of 4000 feet above the level of the sea, the climate becomes temperate, and vegetation continues uninterrupted through the year.

The country produces many valuable drugs and medicines; also a great variety of plants used in dying, besides beeswax, honey, and cochineal, which last abounds particularly about Quito. The precious metals also enrich many districts, particularly Choco and Antioquia, where considerable quantities of gold, silver, and platina, have been obtained. Platina is said to exist in great abundance in Choco, and emeralds abound in many parts of the

* Some districts on the coast, from their peculiar position relative to the mountains, are exposed to almost incredible droughts. It is said the territory of Coro once received no rain for four years, and that other districts have suffered in a less degree.

country. Salt is also among the natural productions of this country; and immense herds of cattle, horses, sheep, and deer, are found running wild in the woods and savannas. There is also an abundant supply of wild fowl, and the coast and rivers are well stored with turtle and fish, common to tropical regions.

Civil divisions, population, and principal towns.-The territory now comprised within the republic of Colombia, previous to the revolution, formed the viceroyalty of New Granada, and captaingeneralcy of Venezuela. The western section of the republic, (New Granada,) comprehended the following provinces, which contained, previous to the revolution, a population of 2,380,000 souls, as will be seen from the following table :

The population of the eastern section of the republic, or the captain-generalcy of Venezuela, before the revolution, was as fol

The provinces of New Granada having suffered much less by the revolution than those of Venezuela, have probably maintained their original population, with perhaps some increase within the last six years. But Venezuela having been the seat of war for nearly twelve years, during which it experienced all its horrors and devastations in constant succession, and has suffered an unexampled diminution of its inhabitants; nearly one half are supposed to have been destroyed, and whole districts depopu lated. Years of peace and tranquillity will be required to supply the waste of life which has been occasioned by a revolution unexampled for violence and bloodshed. Within the last two or three years, the tide of emigration has set towards this country, both from Europe and the United States; and should the war not be revived with Spain, it will probably rapidly increase, and thousands of the enterprising and industrious population of Europe

and North America will be transplanted to the fertile regions of Colombia. In the year 1822, the republic was divided into seven departments, and a census taken, which gave a population of 2,644,600. In June, 1824, it was divided, by a law of congress, into twelve departments, embracing thirty-seven provinces; these provinces were subdivided into two hundred and thirty cantons, and the cantons divided into parishes, which are the smallest civil corporations. The names of the twelve departments, composing the republic, are—

1. Oronoco,

2. Venezuela,

3. Zulia,

4. Magdalena,

5. Istmo,

6. Cauca,

7. Cundinamarca,
8. Boyaca,
9. Apure,
10. Escuador,

11. Asuay,
12. Guayaquil.

The correctness of the above estimate of the population made in 1822, has been doubted; it being supposed to fall short of the real number. It was the opinion of Manuel Torres, charge des affairs of Colombia to the United States, in 1821, that the republic at that time contained a population of 3,600,000. This number, however, probably exceeded the amount, though the increase must have been considerable since 1822.

The population of Colombia, like the other countries in America colonized by Spain, consists of European Spaniards, Creoles, or descendants of Spaniards, Negroes, Indians, and the different casts. With respect to the European Spaniards, their numbers, always small, have been greatly diminished by the revolution, and few are now remaining in the country. Most of this class being hostile to the independence of America, took part in the revolution, and either fell victims to its ravages, or returned to Spain. A portion of the Indians are civilized, and are citizens of the republic; whilst others, like the Indians in the United States, are independent tribes, and are not included in the estimate of the population of the country. The negroes and mixed races are mostly free, and have contributed greatly to fill the ranks of the republican army; and some of this class have risen to distinction in the army, and are considered among the firmest supporters of the independence of the republic.

The principal cities of the republic are Bogota, formerly called Santa Fe de Bogota, Quito, and Caraccas. Bogota, the seat of the national government since the adoption of the constitution, is situated in lat. 4° 35' N. at an elevation of 8,100 feet above the level of the sea, on a beautiful and spacious plain on the banks of a river of the same name, a tributary of the Magdalena, 35 miles from its mouth. It lies at a considerable distance to the VOL. II.

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east of the western Andes. The streets of the city are broad, straight, and regular, and the houses are handsome. The city contains a cathedral, which is magnificent, and richly endowed, three parish churches, eight monasteries, four nunneries, and one hospital. The public institutions are a university, a mint, a mining school, and a library, which contains an extensive and valuable collection of books. The city has a central position, with a temperate and salubrious climate, and is surrounded by one of the most healthful and fertile regions in Colombia. It was the seat of the Spanish viceroyal government before the revolution. Its present population is estimated at 35,000. Bogota was founded by Quesada, in 1538; its distance from the Atlantic ocean, by the way of Magdalena, is 600 miles, and from the Pacific, at the bay of Choco, 217 miles. It is 150 miles from the navigable waters of the Meta, a branch of the Oronoco, and 60 miles from the port of Honda, the head of navigation on the Magdalena. The citizens of Bogota have been distinguished for their patriotism during the long struggle of the revolution, and have made great sacrifices for the cause of liberty. It is proposed to remove the seat of government from this city to the town of Ocana, until the new city, which is to bear the name of Bolivar, after the founder of the nation, shall be built in a central situation, according to the ordinance of the republic.

The city of Quito, which was rebuilt in 1534, on the ruins of an ancient Indian town, is situated at an elevation of 9000 feet above the level of the sea, in lat. 0° 13′ 33′′ N. on the eastern aclivity of Pichinca, a lofty eminence of the western Cordillera of the Andes, about 130 miles from the Pacific. The site of the town is very uneven and irregular; the principal square is spacious, and has an elegant fountain in the centre. The four streets on each side of the square are straight, broad, and handsome; the others are crooked, and so rough and broken as to be impassable for wheel carriages. The houses are all one story only, and generally have balconies toward the street. The public buildings consist of a cathedral, town-house, and numerous churches and convents. The surrounding country is rich, beautiful, and fertile, in the most valuable productions of the temperate and torrid zones. The climate is healthful and delightful. The city is distinguished for its manufacturing industry, and is represented to be the most populous city in the whole territory of the republic; its population being usually estimated at 70,000. In full view of this city rise some of the most lofty summits of the Andes, covered with perpetual snows, and frequently emitting, with awful grandeur, torrents of flames and clouds of smoke, from their bursting volcanoes. The natural port of Quito is Guayaquil.