The accompanying plate represents the elevations which some of the
most noted summits attain in MEXICO or NEW SPAIN, contrasted with the
altitudes of the higher peaks of the Southern Andes in QUITO, MERIDA,
SANTA MARTA and CARACCAS; by which it will be readily seen, that the
northern range of the _Cordillera of the Andes_, is not very inferior
in height to that part of the chain which has been considered, till
very lately, to reach an elevation unequalled by any other mountains in
the world.
Recent enquiries, and the researches of zealous travellers and
geographers, have not only disclosed the fact, that the Asiatic summits
rival and surpass those of Peru, but have also made it questionable
whether the continuation of the Andean chain, south of _Chimborazo_,
_Cotopaxi_, &c. is not far superior in altitude to those celebrated
peaks.
It is true, that the Cordillera sinks very much after it has passed
the confines of PERU, and that it continues to lower its lofty crest
in running through the vast deserts of _Atacama_, in the kingdom of LA
PLATA, and the upper districts of CHILI; but no sooner has it passed
these provinces, than it again assumes the same majestic form, and
continues it in three parallel ridges, as far as the forty-fifth degree
of south latitude, beyond which scarcely any thing is known of this
enormous chain, excepting that its height is very great till it loses
itself in the ocean of the south, opposite to Cape Pilares, the western
entrance of the Straits of Magalhaens.
From its quitting COPIAPO, the most northerly province of CHILI, till
it arrives opposite to the great island of CHILOE and the archipelago
of GUAYTECAS, is the space in which the Cordillera is conjectured
to attain an elevation superior to that of the equatorial ridges
of POPAYAN and QUITO; as in this space are the lofty peaks of the
_Descabezado_, the _Tupungato_, _Blanquillo_, _Manflos_, _Longavi_,
_Chillan_, and the _Corcobado_ or Gibbous mountain; all of which rise
so far superior to the lower limits of perpetual congelation, that not
only Molina, but other travellers have imagined they must be higher
than the equinoctial range, though unfortunately all those who have
had the opportunity of seeing them, have either been ignorant of the
methods of determining their altitudes, or have been engaged in such
active employments as to have precluded them from making any other than
slight and general observations.
One of the most curious circumstances attendant on the scenery of the
Cordillera of the Andes, and which is, from local causes, in a great
measure peculiar to those mountains, is the extreme regularity with
which the inferior term of congelation or lower limit of perpetual
snow, is described on their heads; this feature has therefore been
introduced into the drawing, and that in such a manner as to show
by the scales placed on its sides, the various heights at which the
phenomenon takes place, in the different latitudes the mountains are
situated in.
Some of the principal cities, towns and volcanoes, and a few of the
most extraordinary scenes in the Andes, have also been introduced, and
a scale of miles has been adapted to the right hand, as well as a scale
of feet to the left, in order to afford every facility to the reader of
the work, in forming just notions of the singular situations of those
objects, which may be better done in a graphic manner, than by any
description; but as the immediate object of this plate is to exhibit
comparative magnitude, on a determinate scale, it is with this view
only that it has been constructed, no regard having been paid to the
effect as a drawing.
In the centre is introduced the Mountain island of SOCORRO, one of
the REVILLAGEGIDO group, off the western coast of New Spain, which
attains a great elevation for so small a spot, and is remarkable
as being nearly on the same parallel as the volcanic summits of
_Popocatepetl_ or the _Smoky Mountain_, _Citaltepetl_, or _Pico de
Orizaba_, or the _Starry Mountain_; _Iztaccihuatl_, or the White Woman;
_Nauhcampatepetl_, or _Cofre de Perote_, or the Square Mountain; the
_Volcan de Xorullo_ and the _Volcan de Colima_, on the continent, and
as being itself evidently the produce of an ancient eruption.
[Illustration: _Comparative Altitudes_ of the Mountains, Towns, &c. of
_Spanish America_. _London, Published by Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme &
Brown. July 22, 1818_]
The ensuing list will be found to contain an enumeration of most of
the works which may be referred to as the best authorities for the
early and modern history, &c. of the Spanish colonies in the western
world.
LIST OF WORKS ON, OR RELATING TO SPANISH AMERICA, QUOTED IN THIS
PUBLICATION, OR WHICH CONTAIN THE MOST VALUABLE INFORMATION CONCERNING
THOSE COLONIES.
ACCOUNT of the Expedition to the Mississippi, and to the interior of
New Spain, by ZEBULON MONTGOMERY PIKE, 1810.
ACOSTA, Historia Natural y moral de las Indias, 1591 and 1603.
A Journey through Peru, from Buenos Ayres on the great Rio de la
Plata, by Potosi, to Lima, 8vo. in German, by HELMS, Dresden, 1798.
ALCEDO'S Dictionary (Geographical and Historical) of America and the
West Indies, edited by THOMPSON, 5 vols. 4to. 1810. London.
ALZATE, DON J. A. Descripcion de las Antiguedadas de Xochicalco.
Mexico. 1791.
ANQUETIL, Precis de l'Histoire Universelle, 12 vols, Paris, 1801.
ANSON'S Voyage round the world.
Astronomical, Barometrical and Trigonometrical Observations in the
Equinoctial Regions of America, from 12° of south latitude to the 41°
of north latitude, by M. de HUMBOLDT, in French, 2 vols. Paris.
AUBLET, Histoire des Plantes de la Guyane Francoise.
Aurora ó Correo Politico-economico de la Havanah.
AZARA, Voyage dans l'Amerique Meridionale de Juin, 1781 jusqu'a 1801.
4 vols Translation, 1809, 8vo.
AZARA, DON FELIX DE, Essais sur l'Histoire Naturelle des Quadrupedes
du Paraguay, 2 vols. Paris, 1801.
BANCROFT'S Natural History of Guiana.
BEAUCHAMP, Histoire de la Conquete et des Revolutions du Perou, 2
vols. Paris, 1801.
BERNAL DIAZ, Historia de la Conquista del Mexico.
BERENGER, Collection Abregée des Voyages autour du Monde, 9 vols.
Paris, 1789-90.
BIGGS' History of Miranda's attempt to Revolutionize South America,
8vo. 1 vol.
BORDA, Voyage de la Flore.
BOTURINI'S BERNADUCCI, Historical Essay on New Spain.
BOUGAINVILLE, Voyage autour du monde.
BOUGUER, Figure de la Terre, 1 vol. 4to. Paris, 1749.
BUFFON, Histoire Naturelle, 54 vols. Aux Deux Ponts, 1785-90.
CARLI, J. R. COMTE DE, Lettres Americaines, 2 vols. Boston, 1788.