Peruvians, against cold and rain. The poncho of matted straw is impenetrable to the weather. Mantles of this kind have been found so useful a shelter against the inclemency of the weather, that they have been recently adopted for the Spanish cavalry.—The hammock, the name of which is derived from the Quechua tongue, likewise originated with the ancient Indians of Peru.
REPOPULATION OF THE VALLEY OF VITOC.
The pleasant valley of Vitoc is one of those formed by the Andes mountains, and belongs to the intendency of Tarma, from which capital it is distant sixteen leagues. It is situated in 11 degrees 32 minutes south latitude, and in 302 degrees 15 minutes of longitude. It is bounded, on the west, by the department of Tarma; on the east, by the river named Marancocha, which, arising from the junction of the rivers Uchubambaand Monobamba, empties itself into the Chanchamayo; on the south, by the fort of Uchubamba, and its dependencies; and on the north, by the river Chanchamayo, which separates it from the possessions of the uncivilized Indians. From south to north, reckoning from the elevation of the mountain of Sibis to that of Soriano, it has an extent of eight leagues; and, from east to west, of six leagues, from the river Marancocha to the mountain of the river Maraynioc. It is composed of several plains and deep excavations of the earth (quebradas), of a surprizing fertility, and which, at the commencement of the eighteenth century, were cultivated with great pains and diligence. It is traditionally known that they
afforded
