то SOUTH AMERICA, PERFORMED BY ORDER OF THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT IN THE YEARS 1817 AND 1818, IN THE FRIGATE CONGRESS, BY H. M. BRACKENRIDGE, Esq. SECRETARY TO THE MISSION. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: PRINTED FOR T. AND J. ALLMAN, AND LACKINGTON, HUGHES, HARDING, MAVOR, AND JONES, FINSBURY-SQUARE. VOLUME II. Departure from Buenos Ayres-Touch at San Salvador →→ Island of Margaritta-Victory of Maipu-Its effects in VOYAGE ΤΟ SOUTH AMERICA. CHAPTER I. Observations on the Geography and History of the United Provinces. INCLUDING Patagonia, the viceroyalty of La Plata was the most important in extent of territory of any of the Spanish governments in America. The provinces of Upper alone (added to it in 1778,) are as extensive as New Grenada, and more so than Lower Peru or Lima, and equal, at least, to the whole of the United States east of the Mississippi. La Plata stretches from the northernmost part of the province of Moxos, in twelve degrees south, to Cape Horn; it extends to the Pacific between Lower Peru and Chili, in the province of Atacama; it is bounded by the Portuguese dominions on the north and east, and separated from Peru by the river Desaguadero, or drain of lake Titicaca; on the east it is washed by the Atlantic, and on the west separated from Chili by the Cordilleras. The only portion of this vast territory which is generally believed to be unfavourable to a numerous population, is what is called the pampas of VOL. II. B |