to our northern and more skilful agriculturists and agricultural labourers. Thus must Colombia speedily acquire the highest degree of prosperity, and confer it on her adopted children. Thus may the man whose utmost labour in Britain can obtain for him only the rank of a servant, rise at once to that of a master, and lay the unfailing foundation of fortune and felicity to his children.

We understand, that Messrs Herring, Graham, and Powles, of London, are at present in communication with the Government of Colombia on the subject of organizing a regular system of emigration, and that, in a moderate time, some public intimation of the plan to be adopted may be expected.

1

COLOMBIA.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY.

SECTION I.

ITS EXTENT.

COLOMBIA is bounded, on the north, by the province of Costa Rica in Guatimala and the Caribbean Sea; on the east, by the Atlantic and Dutch Guiana; on the south, by Portuguese Guiana, the river Marañon, and Peru ; and on the west, by the Pacific Ocean. It thus extends from the 12° of northern latitude, -in its eastern portion nearly to the equator, and in its western nearly to the 7° of southern latitude.

The eastern portion of this vast region was formerly called Venezuela or Caracas; the western portion, New Granada or Cundina

marca; and the south-western extremity of the latter, Quito. The whole is now united in the Republic of Colombia.

SECTION II.

ITS MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS.

IN describing these great features of the country, we commence in its western part, because they are there most prominent. The Cordillera of the Andes crosses the country from the south to the north.

Viewing the Andes generally, they run parallel to the coast of the Pacific Ocean, at the general distance of about 150 miles, and may be satisfactorily traced from the river Atrato, in 8° north latitude, on the Isthmus of Panama, as far south as Cape Pilares, at the western entrance of the Straits of Magellan, in 53° south latitude, being a length of 4200 miles.

In Colombia, the greatest altitude of the Andes is conjectured to take place nearly under the equator, where the cone of Chimborazo rises to the amazing height of 7147 yards above the level of the sea.

Considering first the northern portion of this chain, we may observe that the Andes insensibly decrease in elevation towards the province