hands, Rondeau having at one period of the engagement outflanked the enemy's left wing, nearly routed the right, and made a severe impression on the center by his artillery. The result was, that Cochabamba was sacked by the soldiery a second time. Rondeau' retired to Tupiza, where he fixed his head quarters.

The government of Buenos Ayres had sent to his succour additional numbers of troops and arms, but they did not arrive in time for the battle. Rondeau, in consequence of this defeat, was removed from command, and returned to Buenos Ayres; and Belgrano succeeded him, who established his head quarters at Tucuman.

Pezuela was now elevated to the Viceroyalty of Peru, and displayed the energy of his character, and the resources of his talents, by carrying on active operations in Chili and Peru at the same time; the latter of which was occupied to the narrow pass of Volcan, near Jujui.

Serna succeeded Pezuela in the command of the royal army, but with talents much inferior to his. He entered Jujui with an army of 2000 men; but was so closely pressed by Guemes and his guerrillas, that after suffering the greatest deprivations and losses fom famine and the sword, he was obliged to retire, and abandon his hopes of conquest. From this period, for two years, we hear of little more than partial skirmishes in different parts of the country, which were attended with various success.

The operations of the army of the Andes in

Chili, prevented the patriots from carrying on the war with the same vigour in Peru; but the situation of the royalists at present in South America, and of the Spanish monarchy, admonish us that there will soon be an end put to the general devastation.

In

From the foregoing brief detail, it clearly appears that the people of Peru have not merely shown a disposition for independence, but have well nigh sacrificed themselves in the cause. every battle in which they have been engaged they have fought with desperation; wherever the patriot army appeared they were greeted by the people with joy; the cruelties inflicted by the Spaniards added fuel to the flame, and the royal troops every where met with the most determined hostility. But how has it happened that such favourable dispositions on the part of the people for independence, have not been sufficient to put down the Spanish authorities? What are the causes still existing to impede a people possessing such abundant resources, in their endeavours to establish their political independence? Wherefore have the armies of the patriots, instead of gaining advantages over the royalists, and expelling them from the country, been on the contrary more frequently defeated?

The solution of these queries will be found in the civil and political character of the inhabitants of this country, upon which I am now about to enter.

LETTER X.

UPPER Peru, as comprehended in the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata, is better considered under its civil division, known as the district or audience of Charcas. The city of Charcas, La Plata, or Chuquisaca, was founded by Pedro Amures, one of the Captains of Pizarro in 1538. In the district, which is near 900 miles long, extending from the Lake Titicaca to Jujui, there are comprehended twenty-one lesser Provinces, as they are called; which are, Chicas, Pacages, Omazuegos, Apolobamba, Larecaga, Cica-Cica, Chulumani, Oruro, Paria, Caraugas, Porco, Chayante, Pilaya, Punabamba, Tomina, Atacama, Lipez, Yamparaes, Misque, Tarija, Chiquitos; and these are included in the seven governments or intendencies following-Potosi, Charcas or La Plata, Cochabamba, La-Paz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra or Puno, Moxos and Chiquitos. These lesser provinces are governed by sub-delegates, who are subordinate to the governors or intendants who reside in the cities.

The population of the district of Charcas or Upper Peru, amounts to 1,740,000 souls, including Indians. The Indians alone amount to 1,155,000. This population consists of Indians, creoles, Mestizos, Cholos, European Spaniards, negroes and mulattoes: and I shall speak of them all in their order.

The Indians of Peru, its first inhabitants, are very different from savage tribes. In the ancient days of the Peruvian Monarchs, they were accustomed to live under equal laws and a mild and paternal government. Their morality was so pure and simple, that it was comprehended in the three following principles, Amma Sua, Amma Kelya, Amma Loolya, indian phrases, meaning, no thieves, no sluggards, no liars.

After their conquest by the Spaniards, they continued in their own villages, under the goverment of a Cura Doctineros, a Cazique, and an Alcalde. They were reduced to a perpetual minority, and sunk to the lowest state of degradation. All who have written concerning them, have given a very unfavourable idea of their character. They have been represented as destitute of every honourable sentiment, of ordinary intellectual capacity, and even of the common physical strength of man. The reason of this appears to be, that all the travellers in that country have been Europeans, who were utterly ignorant of their languages, who never resided among them, never held any intercourse or communication with them; and of course, possessed no facilities for gaining their confidence, by which alone, can be learned the peculiarities of national character and the resources and capacity of the human mind.

Robertson and Count Carly, approximated the nearest to the true character of the Indians; but their knowledge being principally founded upon speculation, must of necessity be very imperfect

and defective. Ulloa, justly reputed the best traveller in South America, falls into many errors, which may be attributed to the circumstances above mentioned, his ignorance of their language, his short stay among them as governor of Huancavelica, and to the incorrect information which he received from his countrymen, the. Spaniards. Neither the "Viagero Universal," nor the "Mercurio Peruano," works published under the direction of the Spanish government, can be relied upon as giving correct information in relation to the Indian character; although the editors of the latter, which is published in Lima, are natives of the country, well-informed upon the subject, and men of distinguished intelligence. Among all the writers who have treated of the Indians, none have spoken of their attainments in the abstract sciences. To this subject I shall devote some attention when I come to speak of the city of Cuzco.

The Peruvian Indians are generally of middle stature, and well proportioned; their general complexion is a copper colour, although in the warmer regions, they are as fair as the people of the south of Europe. They have long black hair, which they wear loose on their shoulders, when attending upon religious exercises; they have no beards; they possess great muscular strength, which is owing to their temperate mode of life and constant exercise; all the heavy work of the country being performed by them without the aid of machinery. They

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