CAUCA is the department which unites the two conti nents of North and South America, and stretching along the Pacific coast from the mouth of the Atrato 500 miles, comprises the four provinces of Choco, Popayan, Buena ventura, and Pasto. Having a superficial extent of 53,600 square miles, the mean breadth is about 107, with a population of 149,324. The very remarkable river Atrato, flowing into the Gulf of Darien, has its source and entire course its the province of Choco of this department, and affording a navigable channel, connected with the small river St. Juan of the Pacific, by a short canal, goes far to demonstrate that there exists no real connexion between the mountains of the two continents. The city of Popayan, N. lat. 26', and in long. 0° 19' E. from Washington City, is elevated above the oceanic level 5,825 feet ; and the city of Pasto, at N. lat. 1° 13', and in long. 0° 22' W. from Washington City, is ele vated 8575 feet above the Pacific Ocean. Far above the
region of epidemic fevers, and elevated to that of Euro pean grains and fruits, the provinces of Popayan and Pasto have a climate of mildness and uniformity highly favourable to health. Pasto contains 4500, and Popayan 2500 inhabitants. These high tropical rallies of the Andes are amongst the most desirable parts of the habitable earth, where the soil admits cultivation ; but the arable land being of small extent when compared with the en tire superficies, comparative population will be always restricted. There does not any where else exist a greater difference in the atmospheric phenomena than does be tween the two provinces of Buenaventura and Choco, and the contiguous provinces of Popayan and Pasto. The former in particular is a narrow slope along the Pacific falling rapidly from the Cordillera de Sindagua, between 1° and 4° north, with a climate of unequalled heat, humidity, tempest, and noxious insects.