ANDE S AN extensive chain of mountains, running almost paral lel to the western coast of South America, and usually called, by the Spaniards, Cordillera de los Andes.
Whether we consider the great extent of this range of mountains, (in which respect it is superior to any chain yet known, except perhaps the Altaian,) or the remark able height of their summits, or the awful convulsions to which many of them are subject, the Andes seem to de mand more than an usual share of our attention. We regret, therefore, to be compelled to acknowledge, in the very commencement of our observations, that our infor mation is both limited and imperfect. The Andes, as far as we know, have not yet been examined in their whole extent ; and even, with regard to those parts of this great range, which have fallen under the observation of intelligent travellers, many particulars are overlooked, and much important information is wanting, to enable us to give what may now be considered as absolutely necessary, in every description of a mountain. Minera logy, which is undoubtedly still in its infancy, has scarcely been able to extend its researches to the wes tern world. It is to he hoped, however, that a field so rich in discovery, and which promises to repay so am ply the labours of the enterprising and scientific traveller, will not remain long uncultivated. Much, we have rea son to believe, has already been done by the illustrious Humboldt ; at least, the detached fragments of his tra vels which have already reached us, afford a happy ear nest of the information we may expect from his greater work, which, had it been known in this country, might have rendered some of our present remarks unnecessary.
From Cape Pilares, on the Straits of Magellan, where the high land begins to appear, the Andes stretch north wards in almost a direct line to the Gulf of Darien, pre serving the mean distance of 100 miles from the wes tern shore, and traversing a space of nearly 4600 miles.
The chain of the Andes, according to some authors, does not terminate here, but bending northward through the Isthmus, continues its course over the kingdom of New Spain, till at last it loses itself in the unexplored countries of the north. We are not certain that this at
tempt to lengthen the range of the Andes, by connect ing with it the mountains of New Spain, is founded upon correct views of orology. For not only does the direction of the Mexican mountains differ widely from that of the Andes, but, if we can depend upon our very limited information, the prominent features of their com position are different ; the Mexican mountains consisting chiefly of granite and gneiss ; while the distinguishing feature of the Andes is a profusion of clay and porphyry slate. It seems, therefore, more probable, that the great chain preserves its northerly direction, and passes under the Caribbean Sea towards the island of Jamaica, and that the ridge on the south part of the kingdom of Mexico is merely a branch of the Andes, which termi nates in the lake of Nicaragua.
From this great chain, which may be considered as the trunk of the Andes, several important branches shoot off into the interior of South America, which, on account of their magnitude and intimate connection with the prin cipal range, we must not wholly overlook in this general sketch. Humboldt, to whom we are chiefly indebted for our information respecting these subordinate ranges, de scribes three distinct chains, remarkable both for their extent and altitude, as proceeding from the great chain, and running in a direction nearly at right angles to it, or in a line parallel to the equator. The first of these chains leaves the Andes near Popayan, and pursues a northerly course towards the Caribbean Sea. On approaching the lake Maracaybo, it makes a sudden turn to the east, and proceeds along the coast to Trinidad, giving rise to the numerous streams which enter the left bank of the Ori noco.