258. Venezuela, as well as most of the countries of S. America, is subject to dreadful earthquakes, one of which destroyed the city of Caraccas, a few years since. On this account the houses are now generally built of one story.

It is a rich, fertile country, with the usual climate of the Torrid Zone. It has become independent of Spain. Questions on the map.-1. How is Venezuela bounded? What is the capital? What is the port of Caraccas? What other ports?

II. Where is Truxillo? Merida? St. Thomas? What other town on the Orinoco? What island at the mouth? What other island on the coast belonging to Venezuela? What portion of Guiana is included in Venezuela?

GUIANA.

259. Guiana is that part of S. America which lies between the Orinoco and Amazon. It is divided among the Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch and English, It is a very fertile country, but hot, moist, and unhealthy. It is chiefly inhabited by bold and warlike tribes of Indians, some of whom feed on human flesh.

The Anaconda, a very large serpent like those of the Asiatic islands, is found in Guiana, which crushes animals to death, and then devours them.

The Anaconda. (Guiana.)

Questions on the map -1. What great rivers inclose Guiana How is it bounded? Among whom is it divided?

Surinam is Dutch Guiana, and Demarara English Guiana. II. What river separates Demarara and Surinam? What other rivers are the principal? What places on the coast, and where? What missions are there in the interior?

MIDDLE COUNTRIES OF S. AMERICA.

Travelling over the Mountains.

260. The commerce of Peru is chiefly carried on over the mountains, where the steep narrow paths can only be travelled by mules, and the llama, or Peruvian camel.

It is a mountainous, and therefore temperate province, under the government of Spain. It is chiefly inhabited near the Andes.

Questions on the map.-I. How is Peru bounded? What mountains pass through it? What is the capital, and where?

II. What is the nearest seaport? Where is Cusco, the ancient Indian capital? What are the principal places besides this E. of the mountains? What places near the sea, N. of Lima? AMAZONIA.

261. This name has been given to the whole interior of South America, lying chiefly on the Amazon and its branches, which is scarcely known to Europeans.

It is a temperate and very fertile region, entirely inhabited and governed by Indian tribes of various characters. Some of them are powerful, and skilled

in a few of the arts.

Questions on the map.-I. How is Amazonia bounded? What rivers has it? What settlements are nearest to it in Brazil, Peru, and La Plata ?

BRAZIL.

Slaves searching for Diamonds. 262. Almost all the diamonds used in the world are now obtained from Brazil. They are found in the sands of the rivers, and washed out by slaves.

It is an extensive kingdom, subject to the king of Portugal. It is generally fertile, temperate and healthy.

The civilized inhabitants, who are found almost entirely on the coast, are said to be improving in character and information.

Questions on the map.-I. How is Brazil bounded? What is its capital? What great river has it in the north?

II. What ports N. of Rio Janeiro? What places S. W. of it? What mines, and mining towns N. of Rio Janeiro? What others in the western part of Brazil? What islands off the coast?

SOUTHERN COUNTRIES.
LA PLATA OR BUENOS AYRES.

263. The plains of La Plata are frequented by herdsmen, with immense droves of cattle, almost wild, which they catch with a noose.

A large part of this province has become independent, under the name of the United Provinces of South America. The people have begun to improve rapidly, in knowledge and character.

It contains extensive fertile plains called Pampas. The richest mines of silver in the world are in this country.

Questions on the map.-I. How is La Plata bounded? What is the capital? Where is Montevideo?

II. What three places are there on the Paraguay River? Where is Mendoza? What two places north of it? What places and what mines in the northern part of La Plata ? What lake?

CHILI.

264. The people of Chili are obliged to pass their streams by means of ropes, because they are too rapid to allow the building of bridges like ours.

Chili is a mountainous, temperate, productive, and healthy country, resembling Switzerland. It is now independent of Spain.

The people are intelligent, hospitable and very humane to their slaves, but little cultivated.

The Araucanians are an independent nation of brave, intelligent Indians, in the southern part.

Questions on the map.-I. How is Chili bounded? What extensive desert is there on the north? What is the capital?

II. What is one of the most remarkable peaks of the Andes in Chili? What place near this mountain? What are the principal seaports? Where is Valparaiso? What island near the southern part? What islands off the coast?

It is

265. Patagonia is a country very little known. inhabited by Indian tribes, some of which are said to be of gigantic size. The southern part and the islands around it, are cold, dreary, inhospitable regions.

South Georgia, Sandwich Land, and the newly discovered South Shetland Isles, are barren rocks covered with perpetual snow. The coast is lined with