All those more permanent collections of water, which depend not for their. existence on the supply from the periodical rains, are in like manner spread over extensive fiats, and they have in consequence little depth. Of this sort, there is a great num ber, both large and small, scattered throughout dif ferent parts of the country. The most consider -able are the lakes of Mandiha, situated in 25° 20' of south latitude, that of Ypacaraey, situated in 25° 23', and the Iberi, to the south or the Parana, be. tween the 20th and 29th-parallels. This lake is of an irregular figure, nearly 200 miles in length, but little more than 46m breadth. It gives rise to three -rivers which, issuing from its south-west extremity, -fall into the Parana, namely, the St Lucia, Betels, and Corrientes, and also to the river ifirinay, which, taking a south-east comae, falls into the raver Urn, guay. It is shallow, and filled with aquatic plants, .wbicb greatly obstruct the access into the interior. The immense expanse of its waters is diversified by -several islands, which are covered with wood, and abound in deer and other game. It produces a con. tinsel supply of fish, which we remarkably sweat and fresh, and abundance of wild fowl are found on ka surike. This lake overflows twice a-year ; its environs are fertile and beautiful, and they are ea brewed by the fieurialing settlements, new called .Presideneres, which have been .established on its - shores.
- In the late additions which have been made to the •icesoyalty of Buenos Ayres, from the kingdom of Ban, the lobe Titiaca, or Chucuko, appear!' te.be included. It is situated between the two Cordil leras of Peru, in the north-western pert of the pro vince of Los Charcos, and, being formed by the ammoniated waters of the surrounding mountains, which have no outlet, it digers entirely from the lakes which are to be found in the flat parts of the country, being in some parts from 70 to.80 fathoms in depth. It is about 240 miles in circumference, and is navigable for the largest vessels, but is subject to storms, owing to the winds which descend in Ire meadow gusts from the neighbouring mountains. It is frequented by immense flocks of water-fowl ; end its Awes are covered with flags and rushes, which serve for many purposes of domestic menu,. feature. It contains several islands, of which the largest is Titiaca, from which this lake derives its name. The banks are crowded with towns and villages, which are considered the most pleasant residences in the country. • Helms, who travelled by this route from Buenos Ayres to Lima, men. Lions, that, after quitting the banks of the Beta, he did not meet with any country, in the whole muse of his journey, so pleasant and picturesque, as that which bordered on this lake. The hills and dales appeased agreeably intermixed with the rich. eat meadow., on which were feeding numerent herds of cattle, mules, horses, and sheep.
The vest plains of which so grew amp:Ake of this viceroyalty consists are many of tam and, in the vicinity of the Spanish settlements, they have been cultivated, they yield abundant crops of excellent corn, and other productions, while others, afford pasture for numerous; flocks of sheep. From the banks of the Paraguay, immense plans extend westward to the limits of the province of Los Clue cos, and to the mountains that rise far to the north. These are in general elevated and dry, though us. versed by numerous rivers. They are skirted by extensive and ancient forests, which afford shelter to the wild animals of the country, and they are inha bited by scattered tribes of Indians, who roam over their trackless deserts in a state of savage independ eace. One continued plain, in like manner, extends from the banks of the Plata to Chili, and to the large rivers of Patagonia. These plains are called the Pampas, and they present one uniform expanse of waving grass, uninterrupted either by wood a eminence for about 900 miles. The luxuriant her
bage of those fertile districts affords pasture to lona merable herds; of cattle, which rove aboutover grat portion of South America, and which are principally sought after by the Spanish hunters for their bides and tallow. The same circumstance has also favoured the multiplication of wild horses, which are so numerous the plains, that travellers are often surrounded with them for the space of several weeks ; and while they are passing' them in at full speed, which frequently happens for hours together, the party are in the greatest danger of being run over and trampled down. Here are also found dew as well as great abundance of ostriches, armadil• lees, wild geese, ducks, partridges, and other game and towards the frontiers, guanacoes and vicua ass are met with in considerable numbers. These regions at net well watered ; for, though the rivers Baladillce Hueque-Leueu, and the first DeurgursderD, otherwise called Rio Colorado, run through these, the country is traversed by no smaller streams runnting into those main rivers; so that they hold their solitary course through the arid plains ; and PP WOW is to be found, except what collected in the pools when the rain falls.
This country, though neither inhabited by India' nor Spaniards, is occeeimally traversed by bah ; by the fawner in hunting or in predatory and by the latter in jowneying from Mendoza to Buenos Ayres, or in heestiag ettpeclitions, There is a route across the Pampas to Chili; but no stations have been established for the accommodation or protection of ft:wells.% who are expowd, in con sequence, to the attacks of the As them is frequently no beaten= for dreds of miles, nor any traces by which the road can he discovered, the journey the level country is often pursued by the compass. In velling, covered carts are made use o4 which are 'constructed with all the accommodations of a hone, having doors to shut. window. on each side, and mattremes laid op the floor, on which the travellers amp for the greater part at the la gems sal, they beg'.tiseelliag about two owe before sun-set, and continue all eight, until art hour sae sun-rise in the morning. In the course of this jeer Hey, the party are exposed to mow dangers and in convenienc.im Of these the want of water is the most serious evil. It is always necessary to carry a supply with them, both for themselves and their cattle ; but when this tails, they surer the greatest distrem, unless fortunately a shower of rain comes to their relief. The excessive heats during the day are also greatly complained of. Against• these the caravan atfords no adequate shelter, nor does it pro tect its inmates against the rains, Which often fall in, excessive quantities. The inconceivable fury of the westerly winds, which sweep across the Pampas without any interruption, presents another obstacle to the progress of the traveller. There is a road established across the country from Buenos Ayres to Lima, which is more frequented than the route to Chili. On this road regular stages were established in the year 1748, post-houses were erected, and re lays of horses and carriages were provided, for the accommodation of travellers. It is likewise floe from all danger of attacks from the' Indian tribes, who, in their predatory incursions, seldom advance so far within the recincts of the fitiattish territories ; and it is only in the first stages that it is theoght necessary to place troops at the diilbrent stations for the secerity of travellers. This was the route pur sued by Helms, the German Mineralogist, who published an account of his journey. In traversing the mountainous districts of the Andes, the party were exposed to the most sudden and dangerous vi cissitudes of heat 'and cold, sometimes oppressed by the scorching heat of the deep valleys through which the road winded, and within the space of a few hours shivering in the regions of everlasting ice and MOW.