NEW GRENADA, formerly a viceroyalty of Spain in South America, now part of the republic of Colum bia. This great country lies between the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and comprises the north west angle of South America. It is bounded, north by the Caribbean sea; west by the isthmus of Panama and Pacific Ocean ; south by Peru ; and east by other parts of the republic of Columbia. It extends from the river Tunguragua, about S. Lat. 6°. to the Caribbean sea, N. Lat. 12°.
That part of New Grenada lying along the Pacific Ocean, is composed of a long narrow slip of level land. The Andes mountains rise, however, within a short dis tance inland, into the highest ridges and peaks known in the world, except those of Gangetic Indostan. Chimbora zo, Cotapaxi, and Cayambe Urai, all rise within a short distance from the equinoctial line. The great spine of the Cordileras, or Andes, traverses the country in enor mous collateral ridges, with, in many places, very ele vated intervening plains and valleys. Quito and Popayan are both situated on these aerial heights. From the
Antics the country spreads into immeasurable plains to warcls the Oronoco.
Near Popayan, the vast ridges of the Andes diverge. One branch continues to the north, and merges into the Caribbean sea near the isthmus of Darien. A second runs nearly parallel to the former, between the rivers Guacaba and AIagdalcna, and also merges into the Ca ribbean sea, in the province of Carthagena. A third, and very. considerable range, divides thc sources of the Alagdaline from those of the Orcnoco, and terminates by Cape Chichivanas, between the provinces of Santa Martha and Marycaibo.
New Grenada comprises almost every climate, and every variety of soil and mineral and vegetable produc tion. The population is now supposed to amount to about 2,000,000, but it is probable more than three fourths are Indians. The country is peculiarly favour able to agriculture and commerce; and, under a liberal government, could not but rise to a high state of pros perity, wealth, and power.