GUAMANCA, GUAMANGA, or HUAMANGA, is the name of a city and province in Peru. The city was ori ginally founded by Pizarro in 1539, as a middle station for the trade between Lima and Cusco. It was built at first on the site of an Indian of the same name; but, in memory of a victory gained over the Ynca, was called by the Spaniards San Juan de la Vittoria. It was situated in the vicinity of the Andes, in a barren district; but, after the subjugation of the Peruvians, was removed to its pre sent site, in 13° South Lat. in a more fertile territory, about sixty leagues east-south-east from Lima. It stands upon the declivity of a mountainous ridge, not remarkable for its height; but still so far above the rivers, as to be scantily supplied with water. About twenty noble fami lies reside in the centre of the town, in spacious houses of a considerable height, built partly of stone, and covered with tiles, and surrounded with extensive gardens. It is skirted with suburbs of Indian habitations, which are chiefly built of stone, and, though low in the walls, as is generally the case in the inland towns of South America, yet add considerably to the appearance of the city. It contains a splendid cathedral, and a seminary for the ser vice of the church, under the title of St Christopher ; a university, with professors of philosophy, divinity, and law, and endowed with privileges equal to that of Lima ; and also several chapels and convents, a hospital, and a college of Jesuits. It is governed by a corrcg.idor, assist ed by the principal nobility, who form a corporate body, out of which are chosen the alcaldes, to superintend the several departments of•the police of the city, and the ju risdiction of the province.
The province or diocese lying eastward of Lima, is of very considerable extent, and is divided into the following districts :—Guamanga, which contains the capital of the province, is very fertile and populous. Its climate is tem perate; and it abounds in various kinds of grain, fruit, and cattle. It contains several mines, but few of them are worked; and its agricultural wealth is fortunately the principal object of attention to the inhabitants. A princi pal part of its commerce consists in bend leather, for the soles_of shoes ; and great quantities also of conserves and sweetmeats are prepared for exportation.—Guanta, about four leagues north-west of the city of Guamanga, and about thirty leagues in length, is likewise a temperate and fruitful district. It is diversified by numerous heights, woodlands, and broken glens, rich in fruits and pastures. Its silver mines, which were formerly very rich, are now almost exhausted ; but there are still many of lead; and this metal, together with salt and provisions, are its prin cipal articles of trade.—Vilcas Guaman, about seven
leagues south-east of Guamanga, is celebrated for its es culent vegetables and fine pastures, and breeds vast quan tities of cattle. The natives are employed in various ma nufactures, particularly woollen stuffs, which are carried to Cusco and other provinces. There is still remaining in this district one•of the old Indian fortifications.—Anda guaylas, to the south of Guamanga, extends about twenty miles eastward, between two branches of the Cordillera, and is watered by a number of small rivers 'descending from the hills. This extensive valley produces all kinds of. fruit and grain, particularly maize and sugar cane. It Is one of the most populous districts in the country ; and in it many of the wealthier inhabitants of Ca itamanga have large sugar plantations. Guanca Velica, or Iluanca Be lica, commencing about thirty leagues north of Guamanga, is a bleak, hilly, and barren district. It produces little fruit or grain, and its inhabitants arc supplied with provi sions from the neighbouring countries. It is chiefly cele brated for an immense and apparently inexhaustible mine of quicksilver, to the working of which the inhabitants owe their chief subsistence. In the mountains are many shells and marine substances , and in a river near the principal town such large petrifactions are formed, that they are frequently used in building houses and other works.—Angares, about twenty leagues west-north-west from Guamanga, and about twenty leagues in extent, is tolerably temperate and fruitful,'and yields vast herds of all kinds of cattle.—Castro Vir•eyna, south-west of Gua manga, is of very various temperature, but in its bleakest parts its greatest wealth is found. This consists in the wool of a species of sheep, called Vicunna, which had been improvidently hunted down for the sake of its fleece, and which is now to be found only in the coldest heathy spots.—Parina-Cocha, about twenty leagues south of Gua manga, is fertile in grain, and rich in pastures ; and its mountains contain several mines of gold and silver, which yield these metals in great abundance, and supply its prin cipal article of commeree.—Lucanus, about thirty leagues south-sauth-west of Guamanga, is of a cold temperature, but its vegetable productions are abundant, and its herds of cattle numerous. It abounds in rich mines of silver, and is the centre of a very considerable commerce. See Ulloa's Voyage to South America, vol. ii.; and Mayfair's Geography, vol. vi. (q)