usefu. production, and quite unfitted for the residence of civilized men. Terra del Fuego is divided into three islands by two channels, and is altogether a desolate place. The inhabitants of Patagonia, so long proverbial for their gigantic stature, are now known to be little above the European standard in height, and are few in number; they possess no towns, but lead an unsettled life, somewhat resembling that of the Tartars. To the east of Patagonia lie the Falkland Islands, the possession of which at one time nearly occasioned a war between England and Spain. They are now held by Britain, and may possibly be opened for colonial settlement. Still farther south, are the South Shetland Isles, containing not a vestige of vegetation, and covered with eternal snows. To the north-east of these is a large island, Georgia, which may be termed the throne of the southern winter, presenting nothing but rocks of ice and mountains of snow. GUIANA. This territory is divided into British, Dutch, and French Guiana. It is situated north of Brazil, between Cape North and Essequibo, inclusive. As British Guiana is usually comprehended under the West Indies, we shall not enter into a description of these settlements in this place. The whole district is about 600 miles in length, and has an average breadth of 250 miles. The settlement of Cayenne, or French Guiana, was first formed about 1630, by a colony from Caen, in Normandy, after which it is called. It did not succeed. From that period down to the peace of 1814, it passed alternately into the hands of the Dutch, British, Portuguese and French, but was then finally restored to France. There are two settlements, one on the mainland, another on the island of the same name, separated from the former by the river Cayenne. The mainland is low and marshy, and the Indians in the surrounding territories are so troublesome that the settlers attend to little else than the rearing of cattle. It is on the island that all the articles of merchandise are raised, consisting of coffee, sugar, cotton, cocoa, indigo, Cayenne pepper, &c. The island is eighteen miles long, and ten broad. At the north point is the town of Cayenne, the capital of the colony, with a fine convenient harbour, and containing about 200 houses. The population of the whole colony does not exceed 25,000; and altogether it is a settlement of very little importance. Dutch Guiana, until 1814, comprehended Surinam, Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo; the three last were then transferred to Britain. The remaining province of Surinam is about 210 miles long along the coast, and as much broad. The soil is low, rich, and fertile, and produces sugar, rum, cotton, and coffee, for exportation. In 1831, the imports into the United Kingdom amounted only to £899, while there were no exports in return. In 1815, the population was calculated at 49,000, of whom 2000 were whites, 3000 free coloured persons, 31,000 slaves, and 13,000 free Indians and Maroons. The population at present is certainly above 60,000. Paramaribo is the capital, situated on the river of that name, with a population of from 18,000 to 20,000. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS-POPULATION, CHA RACTER, RELIGION, CUSTOMS, &c. Whatever may be advanced against the ritual of the Romish church, the experience of history would seem to show that it is of all the forms of Christianity the best fitted to captivate a people involved in the errors, and addicted to the superstitious observances, of hea thenism, from the strong power which it exercises over the imagination. We find, accordingly, it was through the influence of the Jesuits that a compromise or friendly understanding was first effected between the American Indians and their conquerors. This union has continued to grow gradually firmer from the intercourse of their descendants, by which the physical characteristics of the two races have been amalgamated in the present brown, or rather olive-coloured population, who now constitute the great body of the Christianized inhabitants of South America. The events of the last half century have contributed powerfully to annihilate that invidious distinction of castes, which in other European colonies has been the constant source of mutual jealousy, envy, and heart-burning-displaying themselves in discontent and insurrection on the one hand, and oppression on the other. This gradual extinction of the observance of custe has naturally generated a more benevolent sympathy towards the unfortunate African negroes than is any where else exhibited; and, accordingly, it was one of the first objects of the patriots who threw off the Spanish yoke, to grant them their freedom. In some provincesas those, for example, of Colombia-immediate emancipation was declared; in others, more gradually. In some parts, as in the Brazils and Guiana, slavery still exists; but the spirit of all the various governments is favourable to manumission, and universal freedom seems to be a matter neither improbable nor distant. The uniform establishment of the Roman Catholic religion throughout all the states, has also, no doubt, contributed much to produce a community of feeling and sentiment among all classes of the population, all being alike-negro as well as white-members of the church. The events of the revolution were naturally accompanied with feelings of jealousy respecting all the original institutions introduced by the Spaniards, religious as well as civil; but in the matter of religion, the odium seems to have fallen not on the church, but on the priesthood. This was more especially the case in the commercial cities, in almost all of which as complete an overturn and spoliation took place among the rich and indolent establishments of monks and friars, as during the period of the reformation in Scotland. Generally speaking, the natives of South America are a much more active and industrious race of men than the creoles of other tropical countries. The Spanish custom of the siesta, or noon-sleep, is universally prevalent; but both before and after that period of repose, they are actively engaged either in transacting business, or in giving and receiving visits, attending public exhibi tions, promenading, making short journeys of pleasure, &c. As among the whites in the West Indies, universal hospitality prevails, every man's house being a home to the traveller; and this is the more necessary from the scarcity and bad provisions of the inns. The manners of the inn-keepers and their servants resemble those in the United States, where both sit down at table, and converse familiarly with their customers. The staple dish throughout South America, both at inns and in private houses, is the olla, consisting of boiled or stewed beef, covered with friolas and other vegetables. In these places of refreshment, too, travellers of all ranks and characters dine at the same board, and take their siesta in the same room, upon mats spread down for the purpose. Travellers of respectability generally endeavour, however, to stop at the houses of proprietors near the wayside, who live in a style of wealthy ease and luxury. The Spanish amusement of bull-baiting is pursued with great avidity by the South Americans. But perhaps a more demoralizing and pernicious amusement is the besetting vice of gamoling, in which all classes in the town indulge to a great extent. The method of catching the wild cattle that rove in immense herds over the pampas, is a practice altogether peculiar to the South Americans. The instrument used is called a lasso, from the Spanish lazo, signifying slip-knot or noose, and the operation of using it is called lassoing. It consists of a rope made of strips of untanned hide, varying in length from fifteen to twenty yards, and is about as thick! as the little finget it has a noose or running-knot at one end, the other extremity being fastened by an eye and button to a ring in a strong hide-belt or surcingle, bound tightly round the horse. The coil is grasped by the horseman's left hand, while the noose, which is held in the right, trails along the ground, except when in use, and then it is whirled round the head with considerable velocity, during which, by a peculiar turn of the wrist, it is made to assume a circular form; so that, when delivered from the hand, the noose preserves itself open till it falls over the object at which it has been aimed. Wild horses are, captured with what is called, in the language of the Gaucho, "las bolas," or balls-a most formidable weapon in the hands of him who knows how to use it. It consists of three thongs or cords of hide, each more than a yard long, having balls attached to the extremities. The "boleador," or he who is going to fling the balls, takes one ball in his hand, and swinging the others rapidly round his head, throws "las bolas" with all his might, and unerring certainty, round the hind legs of his victim, which immediately comes to the ground. Spanish is of course the language spoken in all the republican states of South America. At Panama, however, Captain Hall was surprised to hear the whole inhabitants, white, brown, and black, talking good English. This arises from the constant commercial intercourse kept up with Jamaica across the isthmus. COMMERCE OF SOUTH AMERICA. It is impossible for us to give any probable estimate of the present state of South American commerce. The capabilities of this vast continent for a trading intercourse with foreign nations are perfectly incalculable as to value and extent. Having, therefore, briefly stated, in our notice of the various provinces, the principal articles of import and export from each, we will here give the published official report of the entire commerce between South America and Great Britain, for the year ending January, 1831, and from it a guess must be made at the entire traffic of the former with foreign nations: OFFICIAL REPORT of the ENTIRE COMMERCE between SOUTH AMERICA and GREAT BRITAIN for the year ending January, 1831. Official value of imports into the United Kingdom. Official value of Exports from the United Kingdom. Colonial British & Irish Foreign and manufactures. merchandise. produce and Declared value of British and Irish produce & manufactures 3 6 513,594 14 11 583,946 12 7 1.067,884 10 85,254 14 10 £4.2-7.492 19 47.612.953 6 7 141,456 16 10 4,717,366,1 5 8 9 6'04E Total MINES AND MINERALS. Having under the various heads alluded to the mines and minerals peculiar to each district, we reckon it unnecessary to do more here than to show at one view the quantity of the precious metals which have been exThe estimate is made by Humboldt, from the registries tracted from the mines of Spanish America and Brazil. of the various mints, and making allowance for the con traband traffic: Produce of the Mexican Spanish America. mines, to 1906, Produce of the mines of New Granada, to 1503, Produce of the mines of Chili, to 1803, Produce of the Peruvian mines, to 1506, Produce of the mines of Potosi (Bolivia), to 1803, Total produce, registered and unregistered, of Spanish America, Produce of the Brazilian Portuguese America. mines from 1695 to 1803, registered & unregistered, Total produce of the Ameri can mines to 1803 and 1906, Pounds sterling. Dollars. 2,107,270,511 £474,135,566 0 0 5,743,001,280 £1,292,175,289 7 6 So much has the mineral produce of the Mexican mines diminished, consequent on the destructive intestine warfare which so long afflicted that unfortunate country, that it does not now exceed 10,000,000 dollars, instead of £27,000,000, as in 1805. From 18!! to 1826, the collective produce was only 168,297,400 dollars. The coinage of the Mexican mint, for 1827 and 1828, amounted to 5,700,853, and that of the four provincial mints, for these same years, 6,001,74 dollars. Total produce in eighteen years, from 1811 to 1828, 179,999,990 dollars, or 10,000,000 annually. Accord ing to an official document, the coinage of all the mints in 1834 was 12,040,811 dollars; but it is calculated that gold and silver were shipped from Mexico during the same year to the extent of £5,000,000, which shows a considerable rise. The Chilian mines, which produced annually 2,060,000 dollars, registered and contraband. prior to the revolution, and which even in 1817 produced a coinage of 1,161,283 dollars at the mint of St. Jago, fell in 1824 to 193,000 dollars, or only one-sixth of the coinage of 1817. But it has since risen even above its old standard. During the year 1831, there was shipped from the ports of Chili, gold, silver, and copper, to the amount of 2,379,539 dollars. The quantity of gold produced by the mines is, besides, stated to be much greater than appears from official documents. Accord ing to parliamentary returns, the gold coined at the mints of Lima and Cuzco, from 1820 to 1833, amounted to 2,138,870 dollars, and of silver to 27,825,286 dollars. At the different smelting-houses throughout the republie of Peru, the silver reduced to bars in 1833 amounted to 2,562,242 dollars, or about half a million sterling, and the gold to about £30,000 sterling. Still later returns show, that the working of the silver mines in that country is at length proceeding with increased spirit, activity, and success. The Quicksilver mine of Guancavelica in Peru, the only one of this kind in the New World, and which formerly yielded about 8000 quintals of mercury annually, is now very nearly exhausted. The silver mines of Potosi, now included in the territory of Bolivia, have yielded since their discovery in 1545 upwards of 1300 millions of dollars. These are still considered the richest in South America, but great ignorance of mining operations is displayed in working them. Indeed, this remark is applicable to the whole mining business of South America, or was till very lately. What Potos may now produce yearly, it is difficult to state with any degree of accuracy. When Temple visited the depart sent in 1828, the mines were only wrought to the exent of £125,000 annually; other accounts say double hat sum, and they must certainly have at least risen to alf a million since then. The mines of New Granada, which formerly yielded 3,000,000 of dollars annually, tre now much fallen off. The gold and diamond mines of Brazil are not the profitable speculation which they once were. The process of procuring diamonds may rather be termed washng than mining. They are found in the beds of rivers among the mud, which is placed in a range of troughs into which a stream of water is introduced. In concluding our sketch of the South American continent, it is impossible to avoid expressing a regret tha such an extensive and productive region of the earth should have had the misfortune to fall under the domination of Spain, and other unimproving nations of Europe. From this cause, bigotry, sloth, vice in all its most hideous aspects, and an enmity to human improvement, have been engrafted on the social condition of the people, no matter what be their form of government, and ages must elapse before they can compete, in civilization and its innumerable advantages, with their more fortunate and enlightened brethren in the northern continent. DESCRIPTION OF THE WEST INDIES. which Columbus afterwards styled their possessions the Carribean Islands. THE name of the West Indies is given to a huge belt of islands, stretching in the form of a curve between the continents of North and South America. They may The Gulf of Mexico is almost completely separated be, in general terms, described as running in a south- from the other two basins, by the near approximation east direction, from the coast of Florida on the former of the southernmost point of the island of Cuba to the continent to the Gulf of Paria on the most north-eastern northernmost part of the coast of Yucatan, South Amepoint of the latter, presenting a sort of convex breast- rica. The channel between these two points is so shal work to the Atlantic Ocean. They are nautically classed low that it is supposed they must have been at one time DISCOVERY.-NATIVE INHABITANTS. These islands were first discovered by Columbus, when engaged in his adventurous attempt to find out a western passage to India. It was from this circumstance that he gave them the name of the Indies, which, after the Cape of Good Hope was doubled by the Portuguese, was changed to that of the Indies of the West, and this name they have ever since retained. Some of the older navigators and writers, however, designated them the Antilles, by which even some modern geographers distinguish them. They are, however, best known under their original designation, and by this we shall continue to call them. by the British under two great denominations-Wind-connected. That portion of the ocean which is thus in a manner separated from the main body of the Atlantic by this huge chain of islands, and contained between them and the respective shores of North and South America (which are connected by the narrow Isthmus of Darien), is also divided into three great basins-the more northern one being called the Gulf of Mexico; the middle one, the Bay of Honduras; and the southern one (as already noticed), the Carribean Sea. The latter takes its name from that class of islands which bound this part of the ocean to the east, originally inhabited by a nation of cannibals denominated Carribs or Charaibs, and from The first land discovered was the Bahama Islands, the most northern of the group, in the year 1592. Columbus afterwards visited Cuba, Jamaica, St. Domingo, and most of the Carribean, or, as they are geographically termed, the Leeward and Windward Islands. Respecting the inhabitants found in the West Indie Islands by the early voyagers, it is impossible to trace their origin with certainty, although it is most probable that they came originally from the continent of America. There appears to have been at least two distinct tribes inhabiting these islands at the period of their discovery, between whom a marked distinction existed in language, manners, and appearance. The most warlike and powerful of these tribes was that of the Charaibs, or Carribs, who are supposed to have come from the southern continent, as similar tribes of Charails were found to exist in Guiana by subsequent voyagers. The Cheraibs always manifested the most sanguinary spirit, and continued for ages to be the scourge of the other inhabitants of the islands. They seemed to consider war as the prime occupation of their lives, and although cruel to their prisoners, they manifested the greatest affection for each other. Like most savage nations, they seem to have possessed a strong repugnance to every species of subordination, neither kings, magistrates, nor laws, existing among them. Their have been dug up in Barbadoes and other islands. Their religion was a compound of idolatry and superstition; but they believed in the existence of a Deity, and in a future state. of tropical climes, of flattening the heads of their off. | various vessels of clay, some beautiful specimens of which spring. Notwithstanding these barbarities, the Charaibs, at the period of their discovery, had attained some proficiency in many kinds of manufacture. Columbus observed abundance of substantial cotton cloth in all the islands he visited, which the natives dyed of various colours. Of this cloth they made hammocks, or haging beds, such as are used at sea, both name and pattern having been adopted by Europeans. These savages also formed The inhabitants of the larger islands of St. Domingo, Cuba, Jamaica, and Porto Rico, presented the most striking contrast to the Charaibs. They were indolent and sensual in their habits, but mild and forgiving in disposition, affectionate to their wives, and seem to have been of a domestic turn of character. They were par ticularly fond of dancing and various other peaceable amusements and games. Their form of government was monarchical, the kings being called caciques, and their power hereditary. Subordinate chiefs or princes governed each district, who were tributary to the king. They had likewise an established priesthood; but their religion consisted of the usual savage superstition. They, however, believed in the existence of a Deity, and a future state of rewards and punishments. These simple people showed great kindness to Columbus and bis companions while visiting their islands, believing them to be a species of superior beings; and observing the avidity of the Spaniards for gold, they gave them all they possessed. A remarkable speech has been preserved, which an old man, a native of Cuba, addressed to Columbus when presenting him with a basket of fruit. The speech shows the quiet disposition of the people, and their profound veneration for their white visiters. "Whether you are divinities," said he, "or mortal men, we know not. You are come into these countries with a force against which, were we inclined to resist, resistance would be folly. We are all, therefore, at your mercy; but if you are men, subject to mortality like ourselves, you cannot but know that after this life there is another, wherein a very different portion is allotted to good and bad men. If, therefore, you expect to die, and believe with us that every one is to be rewarded in a future state according to his conduct in the present, you will do no hurt to those who do no hurt to you." It was upon these simple people that the Spaniards afterwards perpetrated the most barbarous cruelties, which ultimately extirpated the whole race. NUMBER OF ISLANDS.-PRESENT POSSESSORS. No actual survey of the West India Islands having ever been made, it is impossible to state with certainty their actual number. It must, however, be very great, from the fact that the Bahamas alone amount to five hundred. A great proportion of these are uninhabitable rocks, which generally furnish fine water; and being possessed of good natural harbours, afford shelter for ships in the event of storms. We shall only enumerate the principal colonial possessions belonging to the British and other European powers, and the free native settlements, with a short historical and topographical sketch of each; and then proceed to give a general view of their appearance, productions, climate, inhabitants, government, trade, &c. The first in point of importance, both as to number and value, are the BRITISH POSSESSIONS. I.-JAMAICA. This is the third island in point of size in the western hemisphere, being inferior only to Cuba and St. Domingo. It lies about one hundred miles south of the for.ner, and about ninety west of the latter. Jamaica is situated between latitude 17° 35′ and 18° 30′, and 76° and 78° 40′ west igitude. It is 160 miles long, 45 broad, and contains 4,000,000 acres of land. This island was discovered by Columbus during his second voyage, and was well populated at that period. The natives opposed his landing at first, but he soon effected a reconciliation with them, and took possession of the island in the name of his sovereign. It was not, however, until his last voyage that a settlement was formed on the island; and this arose from his being obliged by tempestuous weather to run his ships ashore. Columbus stayed on the island for twelve months; and after enduring great hardships, he was rescued, and died soon after his return home. In 1509, the son of Columbus despatched Juan de Esquivel to take possession of the island as deputy-governor, and the colonists for many years were engaged in perpetual warfare with the natives. The Spaniards committed great atrocities on the Indians, whom they at last completely extirpated, not a single native being left alive when the English took possession of the island in 1655, nor, it is said, for a century before. The traditionary accounts of the cruelties inflicted by the Spaniards upon the natives are truly revolting; who, instead of retaliating, soon sunk into the condition of slaves, and hard treatment at last effected their complete destruction. The first regular settlement was fixed upon the banks of a small rivulet, called Seville Nueva. Here a town was built, of which, however, nothing now remains but the name, it having been destroyed by French Buccaneers. / During the period the Spaniards held possession of Jamaica, they appear to have made some advancement in agriculture; but their rapacity for gold, which they were constantly in search of, prevented any great improvement in this department. They, however, cultivated the sugarcane, the vine, and the cotton-tree, and introduced cattle from Europe. The Buccaneers made frequent descents on this island, and committed great depredations both on the Spaniards and Indians. It was twice taken and plundered by these rovers; but no regular attack was made by any European power until 1655, when an expedition was sent against Jamaica by the English government. It arrived in the month of May; and so expeditious and successful were the operations, that the fleet was enabled to sail for England in the following month. For some time after, however, little progress was made in the cultivation of the land, the Spaniards having fled to the mountains, from whence they attacked the colonists at every fitting opportunity. Cromwell greatly encouraged the settlement of this island; and in the course of a few years, the number of whites amounted to 4500, and 1400 Negroes. The population rapidly increased, the settlers being principally soldiers from the disbanded parliamentary army, and outlaws from the mother country. Large importations of Negro slaves also took place, which in 1688 were calculated to amount to 10,000 annually, and from that time the population has gradually increased. < The Jamaica has been subjected to several dreadful earthquakes; one of which, in 1692, caused almost the entire loss of the town of Port Royal. Only about two hundred houses in the fort stood after the shock; and about three thousand inhabitants are estimated to have lost their lives on this occasion. Port Royal was also reduced to ruins by fire in 1703; and a similar catastrophe took place so recently as 1815. It was also much injured in 1722 by one of those dreadful hurricanes so frequent in tropical climes. The sea, during this hurricane, completely inundated the town, 400 persons perished, and twenty vessels were destroyed in the harbour. white inhabitants have been repeatedly in danger from the revolts of their slaves, which were the occasions of much bloodshed and cruelty on both sides. The slaves are said to have been at first instigated to rebellion by the Spaniards; but being defeated by their English masters, they fled to the mountains, assumed the name of Maroons, and continued for nearly a century and a half in constant hostility with the colonists. The most remarkable rebellion broke out in 1795, and which has been known since by the name of the Maroon war. The blacks at first obtained many advantages over the English; inciting their slaves to revolt, and committing the greatest cruelties upon the whites. The rebellion lasted for about seven months, from the Maroons having possession of the mountains, where no troops could reach them. The mode of warfare was quite in the Indian style; never facing their foe openly, but lying in ambuscade, and cutting off detachments and stragglers. The whites were at last compelled to import bloodhounds from Cuba, to assist them in this warfare; and this, which at |