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wears the appearance of a country sadly neglected, yet here and there the haciendas of wealthy residents give it an air of life, and the scenery around their dwellings is dotted with limited patches of cultivation.

Merida is the capital, and commands a fine position for commerce with the countries of the two continents, the West India Islands, and Europe; it has a population exceeding 37,000, and there is little doubt that this country, under a good and enlightened government, might become rich and productive—especially as it produces the mahogany and logwood trees, the former of which is considered to be the most magnificent specimen of vegetation in the world, and the trade in which might be made exceedingly valuable. Whatever has been the past history of Guatemala, a new era is bursting upon it. The combined energies of the English and Americans of the United States will give a stimulus to the industry of the country, and introduce a degree of political knowledge unknown on the shores of the Mexican Gulf, save in Texas and Florida, and the kingdoms of South America. The projected railway and canal which are to cross the Isthmus, and unite the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, cannot but affect these districts for good. The intercommunication with all parts of the world that will thus take place, and the centring the commerce of so many countries into one focus for transit, must quickly create another order of things, and leaven the manners, habits, and knowledge of the people with the benefits of European civilisation. The capital, New Guatemala, is situated on a large and fertile plain, and contains 40,000 inhabitants; and though trade is neglected, the industrious portion of the population exhibits great skill in weaving woollen cloths, making wooden implements, earthenware, &c. and many articles that might be profitably exported. Its mountains, plateaus, valleys, ravines, forests, lakes, rivers, bays, and harbours, bespeak the riches of Guatemala; and there is no doubt that when the projected improvements are completed, this country will rise one of the first among the young republics, and become a powerful commercial

nation.

Of the other republics of South America, Peru and Chili hold the chief place. Uruguay and Paraguay are at present of such slight note and importance that the bare mention of their existence may suffice in a paper like the present. Yet no part of the world affords greater facility for internal intercourse and communication with other countries than these states. The rivers which flow through them are exceedingly numerous, broad, and deep, and by their irrigation render the soil rich and fertile.

The Argentine Republic, again, presents a congress of states banded together for their mutual protection, and calculated, when internal wars have ceased and the country become settled, to constitute a powerful confederation. It already sends forth sugar, cinnamon, indigo, cotton, pimento, wax, &c. and receives in exchange Paraguay tea, swan-skins, thread, &c. A large trade, however, is carried on in slaves, which are imported from the African coast. The exports of La Plata and Buenos Ayres, consisting of agricultural produce, gold, and silver, amount to about £3,000,000 annually. The merchants of Buenos Ayres once a year cross the lofty chain of the Andes to St Jago and Valparaiso, to barter their goods and procure fresh supplies of merchandise to sell in their native city. The journey is performed on mules, but attended with many dangers,

not only from the snows of the mountains, but from the tribes of native Indians, who scour the plains between the hills and plunder every company they can overpower.

A military despotism controls the fortunes of Peru. Although possessing liberty and the free institutions of a popular government, they enjoy but the shadow of each. The real power exists in the hands of a few, and not unfrequently is wielded by the will of an individual who has acquired an absolute authority. The appearance of Peru is that of a country in rapid decay, and there is an aspect of desolation about its most populous cities that indicates its real condition. The riches of her mines have led statesmen and governors to neglect the more healthy sources of wealth— the cultivation of the soil and the encouragement of manufactures. A system of monopoly exists which entirely paralyses her energies: labour and industry are impoliticly interfered with; the exports of copper-bars from Lima have been confined to one person; and the valuable fishingbeds on the coast prohibited to foreigners: and as though this were not enough to cripple her, the coin of the country has been tampered with by the government, and even base metal issued from the mint. Owing to the unsettled condition of the country, the position of the people is very wretched. They are much addicted to gambling and gaiety, and spectacles are frequent in their capital; but such is the insecurity of property and life, that no one dares travel alone after dark; and persons who have been visiting at Callao - the seaport of Lima, situated only seven miles distant--form themselves into companies when they wish to return home.

The Peruvians, the ancient inhabitants of the country, form the principal portion of the population, and look forward to a time when they shall sit down under the mild rule of their Incas. The population consists of about 1,500,000, of which Lima contains 70,000. Peru is subject to earthquakes, and the buildings of the cities exhibit the marks of frequent shocks. In order to diminish the mischief, most of the houses are only one storey high, and built of light material. A sixty-gun frigate in the harbour of Callao was once lifted up 150 feet and cast inland to a considerable distance, where a monument was erected and still exists to commemorate the event.

The physical aspect of Peru is mountainous. The Andes entirely occupy its western portion, and rise to a very great elevation. In these mountains, however, lie its principal wealth. Here are found the silver and gold which made the conquest of the country so important an object to Pizarro, and stimulated him to commit the most atrocious cruelties to become master of its precious metals. Its richest mines are near Pasco, in the Plain of San Juan. It is estimated that they formerly produced £1,800,000 annually. A great decrease, however, took place, but from 1825 to 1839 there has been a gradual increase. In the former year there were 228 bars brought to the mint, and in the latter 1210, or an increase of 982 bars, and the value from 56,791 Spanish marcs to 279,260. On the hills around Pasco feed herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, and on the margin of the Lake Chinchaicoca the tame llama and shy vecuna are to be found in great numbers. On the eastern side of the Andes Peru stretches out into immense plains, covered with rank herbage and

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untrodden forests. The fertility of the soil is very great, and produces every kind of tropical tree and plant in abundance. But the whole is an uncultivated wilderness, traversed by wild beasts, and giving shelter to birds of exquisite plumage. A tribe of Indians may occasionally be seen emerging from its deep recesses, but as they live entirely by hunting, and have no settled habitation, they may be regarded as being part of the same picture, and the scene only wears a more savage character from their presence. The social and political condition of Peru is altogether unsatisfactory; although a period of peace and a vigorous president may do much to alleviate its condition.

We turn, however, with pleasure from Peru to the rising republic of Chili. Not possessing the rich minerals of the former country, she was much neglected by Spain, and regarded as an appendage to the government of Lima; but no sooner did she throw off the yoke of Spain than she set herself vigorously to maintain her independence and strengthen her power. To shew the manner in which she has acquitted herself we turn to Valparaiso, the principal port on the Pacific. In 1707 the township was sold for a little more than £300; in 1819 it consisted of ten or twelve huts, and now it contains 40,000 inhabitants, and individual houses fetch an annual rent of more than £1000. Within the last ten years the town has doubled its size, and no doubt will continue progressing in a rapid ratio for the next ten. The whole of Chili is favoured with a more temperate climate than Peru, and hence its people are more hardy and industrious. They are exceedingly hospitable to strangers, enjoy the moderate pleasures of life, and are much attached to their homes. The administration of public affairs is better conducted than in any other country in South America, the police is more energetic and efficient, and the whole state of the country more settled and peaceful. The system of education introduced into their schools and colleges is superior, and the classes more numerously attended. The religion is Roman Catholic, but it is to be observed that the Chilinos have repudiated the interference of the pope in the appointment of bishops and archbishops. Favoured, however, as this country is in a social point of view, the majority of the people are still defective in that true liberty for which they fought. Universal-suffrage is granted by the laws of the constitution to every one above twenty-five years of age, yet the great holders of land are sure to be returned, and the colonel of a regiment must by no means be opposed at an election. The peasants of the agricultural districts are in reality serfs, the landlords acquiring absolute authority over them.

The silver mines of Chili are not so rich as those of Peru, though, if properly worked, they would yield no inconsiderable income. The three years after 1836 upwards of £1,139,913 worth of silver bars and coins was exported, besides gold and copper, which are procured in abundance. The iron mines are also sources of great wealth, and the miners annually extract vast quantities of the ore. In fact, the mountains of Chili are full of valuable material; and it only requires economical companies, steady enterprise, facilities of conveyance, and a good market, to make this country blest with an affluent, intelligent, and prosperous people.

An incident of rather an accidental character threw into the way of Portugal a kingdom no less than two hundred times as large as itself. Cabral, a celebrated navigator, in order to avoid the calms he had

experienced off the coast of Africa in his voyages to the east, sailed from the Cape Verd Islands in a south-westerly direction, and discovered Brazil. This event occurred in the year 1500, or eight years subsequent to the first voyage of Columbus. Having taken possession of it in the usual manner, he despatched a vessel with the news to Lisbon, and left two felons, whom he had on board, with the natives to learn the language. Some contentions arose between Spain and Portugal about the bounds of the new territory, but it was finally settled by agreement; and the rivers Maranon and La Plata were admitted to be its northern and southern boundaries, whilst its extension in the west remained an undecided question from ignorance of the interior.

Unfortunately Brazil was immediately made a penal settlement: not long after its establishment, however, a circumstance occurred which proved favourable to the progress of the colony. A violent persecution was excited against the Jews in Portugal in the year 1548, which was inflamed to such a heat that their most valuable property was confiscated and themselves banished to Brazil. These unfortunate men were noted for their integrity and prudence, and readily obtained sums of money in loans from the merchants with whom they had transacted business. On their arrival they directed attention towards the cultivation of the soil, which they found rich and grateful; they introduced the sugar-cane from Madeira, and the trade in that article soon became a source of considerable profit to the planters. The whole country felt the benefit of these exertions, and every day became more flourishing. Many settlements were made in different parts; San Salvador, Pernambuco, St Vincent, Porto Seguro, and other cities were built, and formed commercial emporiums of importance.

In the year 1626, however, the Dutch, jealous of the maritime and colonial influence of Portugal in Africa, the East Indies, and America, made a descent upon Brazil, and subdued it. For some time, by the discipline and prudence of Maurice, Prince of Nassau, the government of this new dependency was well managed; but a company having been formed of men every way incompetent to fulfil the arduous duties of their office, for the purpose of administering the affairs of that country in Brazil, a sudden change took place. Their object was to make as much as possible out of the recent conquest, regardless of the future. Unjust exactions were imposed upon the Portuguese planters in the shape of heavy duties. The caprice of these new governors enacted that all payments should be made in specie, brazilwood, and sugar; and with many other unnecessary and unjust restrictions they offended the pride of the merchants. Violent discontent was accordingly excited throughout the country; the Portuguese inhabitants rose to arms; and by the assistance of the home government, which was only waiting its opportunity, defeated the Dutch, and in the year 1644 expelled them from the country, after they had possessed it and tyrannised over the people eighteen years.

It must here be observed to the honour of the Dutch, that no sooner had the Portuguese commenced colonising Brazil, than they endeavoured to improve the condition of the natives. Instead of extirpating them, as had been the rule of the Spaniards, they treated them with much kindness, and taught them the arts of civilised life. This grand labour of love was effected chiefly by the intrepid zeal and devotedness of the Jesuits, who acted as mis

sionaries among them, and proved in every respect the friends of the natives. These they found gentle and tractable, though addicted to all the customs of barbaric life, and guilty of some of its most brutalising usages, such as feasting on the bodies of enemies. By patient expostulation, however, many tribes were successfully weaned from their inhuman practices, and better habits and purer knowledge were inculcated.

Brazil continued to flourish and its resources to be improved by the industry of the colonists, until in the year 1699 gold, and again in the year 1730, diamonds were discovered in profusion. This proved highly detrimental to the country, and sowed the seeds of decay. The wealth that dazzled the eyes of the people and their governors was unreal, and Brazil in this moment of brilliant expectations was suffering a hectic triumph. The ordinary occupations of life, the steady objects of industry, were thrown aside-agriculture was abandoned for the gold-diggings; to the mines the mass of the people flocked, to accumulate as they hoped, with little trouble and less time, enormous wealth; and what humanity has the more to lament, the demand for slaves became greater and their prices immense. The tranquillity which had so long existed was broken. Other nations desired to share in the rich spoil of the earth; and Rio Janeiro, which had risen into rapid importance on account of its proximity to the mines, was twice taken and destroyed by the French. Whether this abandonment of agriculture and manufactures would have proved fatal in its result after the excitement had subsided and the people recovered from their frenzy, we have no means of judging, for a man arose in the councils of Portugal, whose policy directly tended to the ruin of his country. The Marquis de Pombal, minister of Charles III., was fired with the laudable ambition of raising Portugal to the rank of a first-rate maritime power. With this view he introduced the restrictive system. Foreigners were excluded from the ports of its colonies, monopolies were established, and the trade of three large and flourishing districts limited to one association. The failure of this scheme was soon experienced in the decreased number of vessels that frequented the different ports. But his policy yet wanted the final stroke. He entertained a violent prejudice against the order of the Jesuits, and imagined them to be at the root of everything evil. For this reason he expelled them from Brazil, and thus withdrew a class of men who, whatever might have been their conduct and discipline in other countries, had always been the promoters of order and peace in this, and the sole instructors of its vast population. From the period of their expulsion the Portuguese settlers began to retrograde, and the aborigines to fall back into barbarism.

For a short time Brazil recovered, and basked in the welcome presence of the royal House of Braganza. The victories of Napoleon and his generals had extended to Portugal, which was reduced to a province. The king and court of Lisbon abandoned the defence of their country, and took refuge in the distant and neglected shores of the western empire. The ports were thrown open to foreign trade, which immediately gave vitality to its commerce, energy to its people, and prosperity to the country. The presence of the royal family united the several provinces, which had gradually been becoming disaffected and jealous of each other. Books were imported, schools were established, European manners introduced,

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