Spanish America; or, A descriptive, historical, and geographical account of the dominions of Spain in the Western hemisphere, continental & insular ..

Front matter

o-y^eJ

THE LIBRARY* 1789

Book ..,JD.\.A

Part I. North Americak Dominions

General Description, Era of Discovery and Colonisation, page 21

Territorial Divisions - - - - 24

Florida (East and West) - - - - 25

Discovery and History - - - - 25

Political and Territorial Divisions - - 42

Boundaries - - - - 42

Climate - - - - - 43

Features of the Country, Productions, &c. - 43

New Mexico ----- 65

California (New and Old) - - - 70

Intendancy of Sonora - - - - 77

Pimeria ----- 77

Hiaqui and Mayo, or Ostimuri - - 79

Sinaloa, or Cinaloa - - - - 80

Intendancy of New Biscay, or Durango - - 81

— — San Luis Potosi - - - 83

Coaguila ----- 84

New Leon ----- 84

New Santander and Texas, and Panuco, or Potosi 84

Intendancy of Zacatecas - - - - 85

Guadalaxara - - - - 86

Guanaxuato - - - - 87

Mexico - - - - 88

" Valladolid, or Mechoacan - - 109

Tlascala, or Puebla - - - 111

Vera Cjruz - - - - 115

Province of Tabasco - - - - 117

Intendancy of Guaxaca, or Oaxaca - - 120

\ ucatan, or the Intendancy of Merida - - 122

V* CONTENTS.

GUATIMALA - - - . PAGE 124

Capital .... 125

Guatimala Proper - - - 126

Province of Vera Paz - - - 129

Honduras - - - 132

— — Costa Rica - - - 136

West India Islands belonging to the Crown of Spain 138

Puerto Rico - - - - 139

Havannah - - - - , 144

Islands near the Coasts of New Spain and Guatimala 14?

PART 11.

SOUTH AMERICJW DOMINIOKS,

General Description - _ - page 157

Boundaries - - - - 158

Era of Discovery ... 158

VlGEROYALTY OF NeW GrANADA - - 159

Territorial and Political Divisions - - 159

Discoveries - - - - 159

Features of the Country, 8cc. - - 165

Tierra Firme ... 172

Province of Veragua - - 1 72

— Panama - - 172

Darien - - - 178

Province of Carthagena - • - 180

Santa Marta - - 187

Merida - - - 193

San Juan de los Llanos - . 194

Santa Fe - - - 195

— de Antioquia - 200

Government of Popayan - - 202

Government of Atacamcs - - 206

CONTENTS. Vll

VicEROYALY OF New Granada (^Continued.)

Presidency of Quito ... page 208

San Miguel de Ibarra - - 220

Otabalo - - - 221

Jurisdiction of Guayaquil - - 225

Government of Jaen de Bracamoros - 232

Captain Generalship of Caraccas, Boundaries and

Political and Territorial Divisions, Government 241

Discovery, History . , . 242

Capital ... - 243

Description of the Features, Sec. of the Country 247

Province of New Andalusia - - 253

— . New Barcelona - - 253

Features, Climate, &c. - - 258

Province of Venezuela and Coro - 270

Maracaybo - - 280

Varinas - - - 284

Spanish Guiana - - 287

Government of the Island of Margarita - 290

Viceroyalty of Peru - - . 291

Political and Territorial Divisions, Government, Sec. 292

Discovery, History, &c. - - 296

Intendancy of Truxillo - - 320

Guancavelica - - 330

Guamanga - - 332

Viceroyalty of Buenos Ayres or La Plata, Boundaries

and Extent . - > S44

Political and Territorial Divisions - 344,

Government, History, Discovery, &c. - 345

Features, Climate, &c. - - 348

Commerce and Resources - - 352

Government of Los Charcas or Potosi - 354

Paraguay - - 370

History, Discovery, &c. - - 370

■ ■ Tucuman - - 376

Cuyo or Cujo - - 383

Climate, Features, &c. - - 388

Vai CON TEN IS.

Captain Generalship OF Chili - - page 396

Political and Territorial Divisions and Government 394

Discovery and History - - 394-

Climate, Features, &c. - - 403

Population - - - . 408

Animals . _ - . 408

Continental Provinces of Chili - - 416

Province of Copiapo ... 416

Coquimbo - - 417"

. Quillota - - 417

Aconcagua - - 419

Melipilla - - 420

Santiago - - 420

«- — Rancagua - - 421

— Colchagua - - 421

Chilian , . . 424

Puchacay - - 424

Huilquilemu •• - 426

Insular Chili - . - . 428

Archipelago of Chiloe - - - 428

Araucania, or Indian Chili - - 431

Islands on the Coasts of Spanish South America 436

List of Works on or relating to Spanish America, quoted in

this Publication, &c. _ _ - 441

Table of the Latitudes and Longitudes of the Principal Places 444

Summary of the Population, Wealth, Revenue, &c. 451

-ifliiJ^ -I I

1»

„ 12«

X !■: jr M\i I A'.

COMPARATIVE ALTITUDES

OF

THE MOUNTAINS IN SPANISH NORTH AND SOUTH

AMERICA.

(^ The J^umbers refer to the Plate.

Height in Feet of the Main Chain and Branches of the S. American Andes.

FEET.

1 Chiraborazo - - 21,441

8 Tunguragua - - 16,500

9 CataCatche - - 16,434

10 Nevada of Santa Marta - 16,419

13 Carguirazo - - 15,540

14 Nevada of Merida - 15,201

15 Mines of Huanca Velica - 13,600

16 Farm House of Antisana - 13,434

17 Ruins of Los Paredones - 13,261

18 Plain and Road of Asfiuay - 13,123

19 Mines of Chota - - 11,562

20 City of Quito - - 9,514

21 City of Sta. Fe' de Bogota 8,694

22 Silla de Caraccas - - 8,420

23 Precipice of the Sa. de Caraccas 8,000

24 City of PoPATAN - - 5,905

25 Depth of the Crevice of Chota 4,922

26 Fort La Cuchilla - - 4,921

27 Depth of the Crevice of Cutaco 4,265

28 Natural Bridges of Icononzo 2,930

29 City of Caraccas • - 2,903

30 Depth of the Crevice of Icononzo 320

31 City of CcMATTA - - 18

32 Level of the Sea La Guayra 0

Height in Feet of the Sierra de Anahuac and its Branches.

FEET.

17,710 Popocatepetl

17,371 Picode Orizaba

15,700 Iztaccihuatl

15,159 Picode Frailes

13,514 Cofre dc Perote

12,05t Cerro de Axusco

10,498 Pico de Tancitaro -

10,249 El Jacal 9,766 Organos de Actopan 9,186 Volcan de Colima 9,057 Mine of Real del Monte 8,818 City of Toluca 8,513 Mine of Moran 8,481 Town of Isla Huaca 8,149 Town of Pachuca 7,723 Town of Perote 7,637 Mine of Valenciana 7,470 City of Mexico 7,224 City of Pascuaro 7,198 La Puebla de los Angeles Ci 6,847 City of Durango 6,836 City of Giianaxuato 6,489 Town of San Juan del Rio 6,404 City of Valladolid - 6,364 City of Queretaro 6,020 City of Celaya 5,852 City of Tasco 5 ,763 City of Salamanca - 5,433 City of Cuemavaca - 4,333 City of Xalapa 4,267 Volcan de JoruUo 0 City of Vera Cruz - ty

References to tJie accompanying Plate of Comparative Altitudes. r-jywr- Inferior Limit of perpetual Snow under the Equator at 15,747 feet. vv^AA Inferior Limit of perpetual Snow in 19' and 20'' north latitude 15,091 feet.

'"^' ' Inferior Limit of the cultivation of European grain in New Spain.

.-.-.■.^--.-.-.T Greatest height of the New Road from Mexico to Vera Cruz, 10,386 feet.

The Flames of Cotopaxi in the year 1738 rose to the height of more than 2,950 feet above the Crater.

Depth of the mine of Valenciana 1,640 feet.

DESCRIPTION

Of the Plate of Comparative Altitudes of the Mountains in Spanish North and South America.

The accompanying plate represents the elevations which some of the most noted summits attain in Mexico or New Spain, contrasted with the altitudes of the higher peaks of the Southern Andes in Quito, Merida, Santa M arta and Caraccas, by which it will be readily seen, that the northern range of the Cordillera of the Andes^ is not very inferior in height to that part of the chain which has been considered, till very lately, to reath an elevation unequalled by any other mountains in the world.

Recent enquiries, and the researches of zealous travellers and geographers, have not only disclosed the fact, that the Asiatic summits rival and surpass those of Peru, but have also made it questionable whether the continuation of the Andean chain, south of Cliimborazo^ Cotopaxi^ &c. is not far superior in altitude to those celebrated peaks.

It is true, that the Cordillera sinks very much after it has passed the confines of Peru, and that it continues to lower its lofty crest in running through the vast deserts of Atacama^ in the kingdom of La Plata, and the upper districts of Chili ; but no sooner has it passed these provinces, than it again assumes the same majestic form, and continues it in three parallel ridges, as far ^ the forty-fifth degree of south latitude, beyond which scarcely any thingis known of this enormous chain, excepting that its height is very great till it loses itself in the ocean of the south, opposite to Cape Pilares, the western entrance of the Straits of Magalhaens.

From its quitting Copiapo, the most northerly province of Chili, till it arrives opposite to the great island of Chiloe and the archipelago of Guaytecas, is the space in which the Cordillera is conjectured to attain an elevation superior to that of the equatorial ridges of Popayan and Quito ; as in this space are the lofty peaks

of the DescabezadOy the Tupungato^ Blanquillo^ Manfios^ Longavhy Chilian^ and the Corcobado or Gibbous mountain ; all of which rise so far superior to the lower limits of perpetual congelation, that not only Molina, but other travellers, have imagined they must be higher than the equinoxial range, though unfortunately all those who have had the. opportunity of seeing them, have either been ignorant of the methods of determining their altitudes, or have been engaged in such active employments as to have precluded them from making any other than slight and general observations.

One of the most curious circumstances attendant on the scenery of the Cordillera of the Andes, and which is, from local causes, in a great measure peculiar to those mountains, is the extreme regularity with which the inferior term of congelation or lower limit of perpetual snow, is described on their heads ; this feature has therefore been introduced into the drawing, and that in such a manner as to show by the scales placed on its sides, the various heights at which the phenomenon takes place, in the different latitudes the mountains are situated in.

Some of the principal cities, towns and volcanoes, and a few of the most extraordinary scenes in the Andes, have also been introduced, and a scale of miles has been adapted to the right hand, as well as a scale of feet to the left, in order to afford every facility to the reader of the work, in forming just notions of the singular situations of those objects, which maybe better done in a graphic manner, than by any description ; but as the immediate object of this plate is to exhibit comparative magnitude, on a determinate scale, it is with this view only that it has been constructed, no regard having been paid to the effect as a drawing.

In the centre is introduced the Mountain island of Socorro, one of the Revillagegido group, off the western coast of New Spain, which attains a great elevatian for so small a spot, and is remarkable as being nearly on the same parallel as the volcanic summits of Popocatepetl^ or the Smoky Blountain; Citlaltepetl^ or Pico de Orizaba^ or the Starry Mountain; Iztaccihuatly or the White Woman; Nauhcampatepetl^ or Cofre de Perote^ or the Square Mountain ; the Volcan de Xorullo and the Volcan de Colinia^ on the continent, and as being itself evidently the produce of an ancient eruption.

Preface

A VARIETY of estimable works have appeared on the subject of America, which have certainly, in a great degree, extended the geographical knowledge of the New World. Many of them, however, were written long ago ; the political face of the country has changed; the journals of recent travellers have opened new sources of knowledge : and we find, among other things, that North America, which was supposed to contain mountains only of inferior altitude, has now been discovered to possess summits of superior elevation to those of the Alps, or the Peak of Teneriffe.

The publications of the most celebrated writers, as well as those of recent travellers, on that country, are in general bulky and expensive, and the mixture of political and abstruse scientific subjects, renders many of them uninteresting to the generality of readers.

This work has therefore been undertaken, with the object of forming a useful and amusing compendium of historical and

§eographical information, with respect to the acquisitions of pain on the continent and in the islands of America, unmixed with political suggestions or reflections, and including a simple record of events, without comment. The Author's inducements to this undertaking have been principally his fondness for the Spanish language, and the idea, that the little knowledge he possesses of it might be usefully employed in giving form to a work on the Spanish colonies.

Authorities of the first eminence have been carefully consulted for this purpose, it is therefore hoped that the matter contained in the work will be found correct and interesting : to the labours of the enterprising M. de Humboldt, it is highly

X PREFACE.

indebted : his researches and indefatigable efforts have recently thrown so much light on the obscure geography of America, that the existence of a great part of the Spanish colonies would have been still unknown but for that able and scientific traveller, the most zealous, as well as the most interesting, of any that ever appeared on the shores of the western world.

The situation of remarkable places has been laid down with the greatest possible accuracy, and a copious index at the conclusion affords an easy reference.

The History of the Invasion and Conquests is only touched upon, so far as it is deemed generally interesting; to have given extended details on this head, would have required volumes; such abridgments have therefore been made as will render all its remarkable points sufficiently known.

The work is divided into two parts ; the First comprehends the Spanish dominions in North America, including the West India islands subject to the crown of Spain.

The Second Part relates to Spanish South America, and the islands on its coasts.

This is illustrated by a map, on -which the Author has bestowed great pains to render as correct and as useful to the reader as possible. The French, the English and M. de Humboldt's maps, which are universally acknowledged to be the best, have been consulted; from the united positions of which, this has been constructed.

A table, representing the relative heights of the mountains in Spanish North and South America, accompanies the work; in which table, some of the principal cities, volcanoes jind extraordinary features of those countries are designated upon a new plan.

With these assistances, and from the consideration that no work of a similar nature exists in the English language, on the Trans-atlantic colonies of Spain, it is conceived that this will prove both instructive and useful to those w ho have not leisure to consult more voluminous writers on the subject.

Previous to proceeding into the body of the work, it will be necessary to make some observations on the plan. The possessions of the Spanish Crown in the Americas being naturally, as well as geographically, divided from each other by the Isthmus of Darien, and the two great portions of the New Continent being usually styled (according to this natural and geographical separation) North and South America, we have

PREFACE. XI judged it proper to adopt this rational and clearly defined distinction, in undertaking to give an account of the territories of a nation, which extend through the greater part of both divisions ; accordingly in the following pages, our plan will be found to be, that all the Colonies of Spain in North America will have been described before any thing shall have been advanced concerning the colonies in South America belonging to that Power.

It not being the intention of this work to give a dull and uninteresting recapitulation of all the circumstances attending the various discoveries and conquests of the Spaniards in different pai-ts of America, which have been detailed by numerous Authors at much length, and in so many different ways, those events will only be noticed as eras, occasionally illustrated by a summary of such circumstances as may be deemed the most interesting and remarkable.

The longitudes of places throughout the work are invariably reckoned west of the Royal Observatory of Green\^'ich ; and, the principal positions are collected in a table of latitudes and longitudes which concludes the whole.