Page:The Present State of Peru.djvu/379

Rh of the Cordillera to which an allusion has already been made, and passing through the centre of the parochial district of San Lorenzo, descends to the city of that name, where its water, having lost its pureness and transparence, is no longer potable. Continuing its progress, it flows into the valley of la Concepcion, a league below the town. Another small river, which may with more propriety be named a torrent, has its source in the southern part of the same cordillera, whence it is precipitated into the province of Tucuman, and, in its descent, supplies with a portion of its waters the Chahuaya tribe, from which it receives its name, until at length it unites with the Guadalquivir in the most level part of the district of la Concepcion. The last river to be cited, proceeds from the ceqtre of the above-mentioned cordillera, together with other streams which traverse the dependency of Tolomosa; and is named Bermejo. After having, in its progress, incorporated itself with the Guadalquivir, it takes the name of the river of Tarija. At the distance of a few leagues from its confluence it forces its passage through a strait, and having traversed the mountains, discharges itself below the mission of las Salinas, whence it passes in the vicinity of Salta, &c. and proceeds to the celebrated plains of Manco, know n by the name of Gran Chaco, seeking the Parahuay, having already resumed its primitive name of Bermejo, and receiving the contents of other smaller streams. These different rivers, the latter even, which is by far the most considerable, have not any influence on the conveniences of life and commerce of the provinces through