Statement of the total value received by his Majesty from the Royal Duties of Twenty per cent. (QUINTAS) Tenths, and One and a Half per cent. on Ingots collected in the Royal Chest of Potosi, from the 1st of January 1556, to the 31st of December 1800, showing the quantities for which the said Duties were exacted. From the above, it is proved that the Royal Duties received into the Treasury during the three periods quoted, amounted to one hundred and fifty-seven millions nine hundred and thirtyone thousand one hundred and twenty-three dollars and one real, as appears from the first column; the quantities for which these duties were levied, amount to eight hundred and twentythree millions nine hundred and fifty thousand five hundred and eight dollars seven reals and seven-eighths, as is demonstrated in the second column; which statement was made out from the Royal books of the aforesaid Royal chest, by Señor Don Lamberto de Sierra, Minister and Treasurer of it, and Honorary Accomptant-General of the Tribunal of Accounts for that Viceroyalty; and causes exist to induce a belief, in conformity with the best authenticated computations, that, besides the 20 per cent. duties in the eleven foregoing years, from 1545 to 1556, and what was extracted after that time without paying 20 per cent., a quantity ought to be reckoned equal to the eight hundred and twenty-three millions, &c., which, in all, is equivalent to one thousand six hundred and forty-seven millions nine hundred and one thousand and seventeen dollars seven reals and threequarters. COCHABAMBA. This province was founded in 1572, and is situated in 17° 2' of south latitude, and in 68° 31' of west longitude from the meridian of Paris, or 4 hours and 34' of time. Although in this territory silver and gold are not met with, as in the greater part of the country called Upper Peru, it is, nevertheless, a country of the greatest importance, as will be shown in the following description, taken from a manuscript document, preserved in the public Library of Buenos Ayres, which contains all the observations of Don Thadeus Haenke, Fellow of the Academies of Vienna and Prague, entitled, Introduction to the Natural History of the Province of Cochabamba." "The territory of the province of Cochabamba," says he, says he, "forms a long and narrow strip of land, which, with but little variation, runs from west to east. Its length is about 130 geographical leagues, more or less, supposing it a straight line; and its diameter, under the same supposition of a straight line, does not exceed the space of 20 or 30 leagues. Its direction is almost from north to south. On the south it is separated from the districts of Chayanta, Yamparaes, and Charcas, by the river Grande; on the north, the interior ridge of mountains forms a respectable barrier, which separates it from the Andes. the west it is bounded by the immense mountains of the exterior ridge, commonly called De la Costa; and on the east its territory adjoins those vast plains, which lie so low as to be almost on a level with the waters of the sea, and the true extent and position of which future ages alone can determine. Its singular position is the cause of its fertility, and of its variable climate and temperature, of which, in short, it combines in a small space every modification. On THE PRODUCTIONS OF COCHABAMBA ARE AS FOLLOWS: Mineral Substances. NATURAL. Native alum, or Cochina blanca. Native alum, mixed with the vitriol of iron, or Colquemillo. Vitriol of iron, or copperas of stone. English salt. Mineral salt. Pure nitre. Mineral alcali, or losa nativa. Native verdigris, or verde montaña. ARTIFICIAL. Vitriolic acid. Nitrous acid. Muriatic acid. Nitro-muriatic acid, or Aqua Regia. Vitriol of copper. Tartar of vitriol. White magnesia. Materials for the manufacture of crystal. Animal Substances. New materials to make Sal Ammoniac. Wools of the vicunna and of the alpaca, (Cavia paca of Linnæus.) Cochineal of Peru, or El Magno. Vegetable Substances. MEDICINAL. Gum Arabic. New shrub impregnated with camphor. La Hamhama. La Catacata. El Tanitani. La Arnica de los Andes. La Caryophilata de los Andes. La Guachanca. La Agave Vivapara. La Vegonia. Quina a Carcarilla. DOMESTIC. Tara wood, and other astringent substances. Palo Churinque. El Melle y la Tola. El Chapi de los Yugas. El Achiote. El Airampo. La Papa morada. Indigo. It may also be added, that this province enjoys the mildest possible atmosphere, with a territory capable of producing all that can contribute to the convenience of life. It abounds with inhabitants, whose number amounts to a hundred thousand souls. U |