LatAm Digital Edition and Gazetteer

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and lies seven leagues to the n. of its head settlement.

CORUTES, a small river of the province and government of Paraguay. It runs n. n.'e. and enters the Xexuy, opposite the town of Curuguato.

CORWI, a river of the province and government of French Guinea. It enters the sea close to cape Orange.

COSACURO, a small river of the province and colony of Surinam, or part of Guayana in the Dutch possessions. It runs n. and enters the Cuyuni.

COSANGA, a large river of the province of Quixos in the kingdom of Quito. It runs s. e. then turns its course e. and as it were imperceptibly to the n. and afterwards, in order to receive on the w. the river Bermejo, enters the s. side of the river Coca.

COSAPA, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Carangas in Peru, of the archbishopric of Charcas ; annexed to the curacy of Turco.

COSCAOCOAS, a nation of Indians reduced to the Catholic faith, dwelling upon the llanura or level of Cumboso, of the jurisdiction of Lamas. They are few in number, and are bounded by the Amasifucines.

COSCOMATEPEC, San Juan de, a settlement of the head settlement of Yxhuatlan, and alcaldia mayor of Cordoba, in NuevaEspana. It contains 10 families of Spaniards, 35 of Mustees, 75 of Mulattoes, and 196 of Indians. Seven leagues to the n. n. w. of its head settlement ; but the roads here are so rugged and full of steeps and precipices that the sight grows dizzy at looking down them.

COSCOMITLAN, a settlement of the liead settlement and alcaldia mayor of Caxititlas in Nueva Espana, from whence it lies one league and a half to the n. w. In its vicinity is a lake.

COSELA, a settlement and real of the silver mines of the province of Copala, and kingdom of Nueva Vizcaya ; situate to the n. of that of Charcas.

COSEREMONIANOS, a barbarous nation of Indians, of the province and government of Moxos in the kingdom of Quito ; discovered by Father Cypriano Baraza, a Jesuit. It is, however, but little known.

COSIGUIRACHI, a town of the province of Taraumara, and kingdom of Nueva Vizcaya ; one of the most wealthy towns in the kingdom, and of a mild and healthy temperature. Its population is composed of many families of Spaniards and Mustees^ no small number of Mulattoes, and very many Indians. It is 24 leagues to the s. k?. \ to

the s. of the real of the mines and town of San Felipe de Chiguagua.

Cosiguirachi, a settlement and real of the silver mines of the intendancy of Durango in Nueva Espana; of a cdld temperature ; situate in a rough and uneven territory, but being fertile, and abounding in fruits and seeds. (By a very recent memoir of the intendantof Durango, the population of this real was made to amount to 10,700.)

COSMA, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Huamalies in Peru ; annexed to the curacy of Banos.

COSMA, another settlement, in the province and corregimiento of Andahuailas, of the same kingdom ; annexed to the curacy of Moro in the province of La Santa.

COSME, San, a settlement of the head settlement and alcaldia mayor of Fresnillo in Nueva Espana. It contains a very large number of Spaniards, Indians, Mustees, and Mulattoes, being very close to the city of Zacatecas, lying from thence only seven leagues to the n. and being 10 to the e. of its capital.

COSME, San, another settlement, of the province and government of Sonora in Nueva Espana ; situate in the country of the Sobaipuris Indians, on the shore of a river between the settlements of Santa Catalina and San Francisco Xavier.

COSME, San, another, with the surname of Viejo, (Old), a reduccion of the missions which were held by the regulars of the company of Jesuits, in the province and government of Paraguay ; situate on the shore of the river Parana, between the settlements of Santa Ana and La Candelaria.

COSME, San, another, with the addition of Nuevo, (New), to distinguish it from the former in the same province : also a reduccion of the regulars of the company of Jesuits, on the shore of the Parana, and to the w. of the settlement of Jesus.

COSME, San, a small island of the gulf of California, or Mar Roxo de Cortes ; situate very near the coast, in the middle of the canal which is formed by this coast and the island of Carmen, and close to another island called San Damian.

COSPALA, a settlement of the head settlement and alcaldia mayor of Juchipila in Nueva Espana. It is five leagues to the s. of the head settlement.

COSSA, or COSAIBO, a river of the province and government of Guayana, in the French possessions.

COSSART, a town of the province and colony of N. Carolina ; situate on the shore of the river Jadquin.

COSTA-BAXA, a part of the coast of Brazil, in

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the province and captainship of Marañan, between the rivers Camindes and Paraguay.

Costa-Desierta, a large plain of the Atlantic, between cape S. Antonio to the n. and cape Blanco to the s. It is 80 leagues long, and has on the n. the llanuras ox pampas of Paraguay, on the etJ. the province of Cuyo, of the kingdom of Chile, on the s. the country of the Patagones, and on tlie c. the Atlantic. It is also called the Terras Magellanicas, or Lands of Magellan, and the whole of this coast, as well as the land of the interior territory, is barren, uncultivated, and unknoAvn.

Costa-Rica, a province and government of the kingdom of Guatemala in N. America ; bounded n. and w. by the province ot Nicaragua, e. by that of Veragua of the kingdom of Tierra Firme ; s. w. and n. w. by the S. sea, and n. e. by the N. sea. It is about 90 leagues long e. w. and 60 n. s. Here are some gold and silver mines. It has ports both in the N. and S. seas, and tAVO excellent bays, called San Geronimo and Caribaco. It is for the most part a province that is mountainous and full of rivers ; some of which enter into the N. sea, and others into the S. Its productions are similar to those of the other provinces in the kingdom ; but the cacao produced in some of the llanuras here is of an excellent quality, and held in much estimation. The Spaniards gave it the name of Costa-Rica, from the quantity of gold and silver contained in its mines. From the mine called Tisingal, no less riches have been extracted than from that of Potosi in Peru ; and a tolerable trade is carried on by its productions with the kingdom of Tierra Firme, although the navigation is not alway« practicable. The first monk Avho came hither to preach and inculcate religion amongst the natives, was the Fra_y Pedro de Betanzos, of the order of St. Francis, who came hither in 1550, when he was followed by several others, who founded in various settlements 17 convents of the above order. The capital is Cartago.

Costa-Rica, a river of the province ancT government of Nicaragua in the same kingdom, which runs n. and enters theDesaguadero, or W aste W ater of the Lake.

COSTO, a settlement of the English, in the island of Barbadoes, of the district and parish of Santiago ; situate near the w. coast.

COTA, a settlement of the corregimiento of ipaquira in the Nuevo Reyno de Granada. It is of a very cold temperature, produces the fruits peculiar to its climate, contains upwards of 100 Indians, and some white inhabitants ; and is four leagues from Santa Fe.

Cota, a small river of the province and govern-

ment of Buenos Ayres in Peru. It rises in the sierras, or craggy mountains, of Nicoperas, runs w. and enters the Gil.

COTABAMBAS, a province and corregimiento of Peru ; bounded n. by the province of Abancay, s. w. and s. and even s. e. by that of Chilques and Masques or Paruro, w, by that of Chumbivilcas, and n. w. by that of Aimaraez. It is 25 leagues long e.w. and 23 wide n.s. It is for the most part of a cold temperature, as are the other provinces of the sierra; it being nearly covered Avith mountains, the tops of which are the greatest part of the year clad Avith snoAV. In the Ioav lands are many pastures, in Avhich they breed numerous herds of cattle, such as cows, horses, mules, and some small cattle. Wheat, although in no great abundance, maize, pulse, and potatoes, also groAv here. In the broken, uneven hollows, near which passes the river Apurimac, and which, after passing through the province, runs into that of Abancay, groAV plantains, figs, water melons, and other productions peculiar to the coast. Here are abundance of magueges', which is a plant, the leaves or tendrils of which, much resemble those of the savin, but being somewhat larger ; from them are made a species of hemp for the fabricating of cords, called cahuyas, and some thick ropes used in the construction of bridges across the rivers. The principal rivers are the Oropesa and the Chalhuahuacho, Avhich have bridges for the sake of communication Avith the other provinces. Tlie bridge of Apurimac is three, and that of Chuructay 86 yards across ; that of Churuc, Avhich is the most frequented, is 94 yards ; and there is another which is much smaller : all of them being built of cords, except one, called Ue Arihuanca, on the river Oropesa, which is of stone and mortar, and has been here since the time that the ferry-boat was sunk, Avith 15 men and a quantity of Spanish goods, in 1620. Although it is remembered that gold and silver mines have been worked in this province, none are at present ; notAvithstanding that in its mountains are manifest appearances of this metal, as well as of copper, and that in a part of the river Ocabamba, Avhere the stream runs witli great rapidity, are found lumps^ of silver, which are washed off from the neighbouring mountains. The inhabitants of the whole of the province amount to 10,000, who are contained in the 25 following settlements ; and the capital is Tambobamba.

Cotabambas,

Totora,

Cullurqui,

Huaillati,

1

Palpakachi,

Llikehavilea,

Corpahuasi,

Pituhuanca.

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Airihuanca, Curasco, Chuquibatnba, Vilcabamba, Mamara, Turpay, Aquira, Llaqua,

Patahuasi,

Cocha,

Mara,

Pitic,

Aporaarco,

Palcaro,

Totorhuailas,

Chacaro.

COTACACHE, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Otavalo in the kingdom of Quito.

COTACACHE, a mountain of this province and kingdom, the top of which is eternally covered Avith snow. From its summit runs the river Cayapas.

COTAGAITA, Santiago de, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Chichas and Tarija. Twenty-nine leagues from Potosi.

COTAGAITILLA, a settlement of the same province and corregimiento as the former ; annexed to the curacy of the capital.

COTAHUASSI, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Chumbivilcas in Peru.

COTAHUAU, an ancient province of Peru, at the foot of the cordillera of the Andes, and to the w. of Cuzco. It is one of those which were conquered by Mayta Capac, fourth Emperor.

COTAHUIZITLA, a settlement of the head settlement and alcaldia mayor of Cuicatlan in Nueva Espana. It is of a hot temperature, contains 28 families of Indians, who are busied in making mats, which they cs\\ petates. It belongs to the curacy of Atlatlauca, the capital of the alcaldia mayor of this name; being distant 10 leagues from its capital.

COTAPARAZO, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Guailas in Peru.

COTA-PINI, a settlement of the province and government of Quixos and Macas in the kingdom of Quito.

COTAS, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Yauyos in Peru; annexed to the curacy of Arma in the province of Castro Vireyna.

(COTEAUX, Les, a town on the road from Tiburon to port Salut, on the 5. side of the s. peninsula of the island of St. Domingo, 13f leagues e. by of the former, and four n.w, of the latter.)

COTICA, a river of Guayana, in the part possessed by the Dutch, or colony of Surinam. It runs n. until it comes very near the coast, making many turns, and then changing its course e. enters the Comowini. At its mouth is a fort to defend its entrance, called Someldick.

COTIJA, Valley of, of the alcaldia mayor of

Tinguindin in Nueva Espana. It is more than two leagues in circumference, and in it live 205 families of Spaniards. It is of a mild temperature, and abounds in seeds. Seven leagues to the w. of its capital.

COTLALTA, a settlement and head settlement of the alcaldia mayor of Tuxtla in Nueva Espana. It contains 140 families of Indians, and three or four of Spaniards. It abounds greatly in tamarinds, of which are made excellent conserves.

COTOCHE, a cape of the coast of Yucatán, opposite that of San Antonio, in the island of Cuba ; between these lies the navigation leading to this island from Nueva Espana.

COTOCOLLAO, a settlement of the kingdom of Quito, in the corregimiento of the district of the Cinco Leguas de la Capital; being situate just where the beautiful llanura or plain of lilaquito or Rumi-Pampa terminates. Its territory extends to n. w. upon the skirt of the mountain Pichincha, and is bounded on the n. by the settlement of Pomasque. It is of a somewhat cold and moist temperature ; and in it is the county of Selva Florida, of the house of Guerrero Ponce de Leon, one of the most ancient and illustrious of the kingdom.

COTOE, a settlement of the province and gavernment of Canta in Peru ; annexed to the curacy of Lampun.

COTOPACSI, a mountain and desert, or paramo, of the province and corregimiento of Tacunja in the kingdom of Quito, to the s. and onefourth to s. e. It is of the figure of an inverted truncated cone, and is in height 2952 Parisian feet above the level of the sea : on its summit, which is perpetually covered with snow, is a volcano, which burst forth in 1698, in such a dreadful manner as not only to destroy the city of Tacunja, with three fourths of its inhabitants, but other settlements also. It likewise vomited up a river of mud, which so altered the face of the province, that the missionaries of the Jesuits of Maynos, seeing so many carcases, pieces of furniture, and houses floating down the Maranon, were persuaded amongst themselves that the Almighty had visited this kingdom with some signal destruction ; they, moreover, wrote circular letters, and transmitted them open about the country, to ascertain Avhat number of persons were remaining alive. These misfortunes, though in a moderate degree, recurred in the years 1742, 1743, 1760, 1768. From the e. part of this mountain the Napo takes its rise; and from the s. the Cotuche and the Alagues, which, united, form the river San Miguel, and afterwards, with others, the Patate ; to this the Chambo joins itself, which afterwards degenerates.

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(Crow’s Meadows, a river in the n.w. territory, which runs n. w. into Illinois river, opposite to which are fine meadows. Its mouth is 20 yards wide, and 240 miles from the Mississippi. It is navigable between 15 and 18 miles.)

(CROWN Point is the most s. township in Clinton county, New York, so called from the celebrated fortress which is in it, and which was garrisoned by the British troops, from the time of its reduction by General Amherst, in 1759, till the late revolution. Itwastakenby the Americans the I4th of May 1775, and retaken by the British the year after. The point upon which it was erected by the French in 1731, extends n. into lake Champlain. It was called Kruyn Punt, or Scalp Point, by the Dutch, and by the French, Pointe-a-laChevelure ; the fortress they named Fort St. Frederick. After it was repaired by the British, it was the most regular and expensive of any constructed by them in America ; the walls are of wood and earth, about 16 feet high and about 20 feet thick, nearly 150 yards square, and surrounded by a deep and broad ditch dug out of the solid rock ; the only gate opened on the n. tow'ards the lake, where was a draw-bridge and a covert way, to secure a communication with the waters of the lake, in case of a siege. On the right and left, as you enter the fort, is a row of stone barracks, not elegantly built, which are capable of containing 2000 troops. There were formerly several outworks, which are now in ruins, as is indeed the case with the principal fort, except the walls of the barracks. The famous fortification called Ticonderoga is 15 miles s. of this, but that fortress is also so much demolished, that a stranger would scarcely form an idea of its original construction. The town of Crown Point has no rivers ; a few streams, however, issue from the mountains, which answer for mills and common uses. In the mountains, which extend the whole length of lake George, and part of the length of lake Champlain, are plenty of moose, deer, and almost all the other inhabitants of the forest. In 1790 the town contained 203 inhabitants. By the state census of 1796, it appears there are 126 electors. The fortress lies in lat. 43° 56' n. ; long. 73° 2P w.)

(CROYDEN, a township in Cheshire county, New Hampshire, adjoining Cornish, and about 18 miles n. e. of Ciiarlestown. It was incorporated in 1763 ; in 1775 it contained 143, and in 1790, 537 inhabitants.)

CRUAIRE, a settlement of the province of Venezuela, and government of Maracaibo; situate

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on the coast, between cape San Roman and the Punta Colorada.

CRUCERO, a settlement of the province and corregimiento of Carabaya in Peru ; annexed to the curacj" of Coaza. It has a sanctuary where an image of Nuestra Seilora del Rosario is held in high veneration.

CRUCES, a settlement of the province and kingdom of Tierra Firme ; situate on the shore of the river Chagre, and in a small valley surrounded by mountains. It is of a good temperature and healthy climate, and is the plain from whence the greatest commerce was carried on, particularly at the time that the galleons used to go to Tierra Firme, the goods being brought up the river as far as this settlement, where the royal store-houses are established, and so forwarded to Panama, Avhich is seven leagues distant over a level road. The alcaldia mayor and the lordship of this settlement is entailed upon the eldest son of the illustrious house of the Urriolas; which family is established in the capital, and has at sundry times rendered signal services to the king. The English pirate, John Morgan, sacked and burnt it in J670.

Cruces, another settlement, of the province and government of Cartagena ; situate on the same island as is the city, and on the shore of the great river Magdalena.

Cruces, another, of the province and corregimiento of Paria in Peru ; annexed to the curacy of Toledo.

Cruces, another, of the missions belonging to the religious order of St. Francis, in the province of Taraumara, and kingdom of Nueva Vizcaya. Twenty-nine leagues to the n. w. of the town and real of the mines of San Felipe de Chiguagua.

Cruces, another, of the province of Tepeguana, and kingdom of Nueva Vizcaya.

Cruces, another, of the province and eorregfmiento of Cuyo in the kingdom of Chile ; situate e. of the city of San J uan de la Frontera, and upon the shore of one of the lakes of lluanacache.

Cruces, another, in the same kingdom ; situate on the shore of the river Biobio.

Cruces, a river in the district of Guadalabquen of the same kingdom. It is an arm of tlie Callacalla, which enters the Valdivia, and forms the island of Las Animas.

CRUILLAS, a town of the province and government of La Sierra Gorda in the bay of Mexico, and kingdom of Nueva Espana, founded in 1764, by order of the Marquis of this title and viceroy' of these provinces.

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CRUZ.

CRUZ, Santa, de la Sierra, a province and government of Peru, bounded n. by that of Moxos, e. by tlie territory of the Chiquitos Indians, s. by the infidel Chirigiianos and Chanaes Indians, s, w. by the province of Tomina, and w. by that of Mizqiie. it is an extensive plain, which on the w. side is covered with Indian dwellings and grazing farms, as far as the river called Grande or Huapay. It extends 28 leagues s. as far as the same river, 18 ra. as far as the foot of the cordillera, and 24 n. being altogether covered with various estates, as indeed arc the parts on the other side of the cordillera. It lies very low, and is free both from the extreme cold and parching heat of the serramas, altliough the other provinces of this bishopric, which lie close by this province, are much infested with the same variations of climate. It is, however, of a hot aiul moist temperature, and the country is mountainous ; on its plains are found various kinds of wood, good for building, and amongst the rest, a sort of palm, the heart of which is used for making the frame works to windows of temples and houses, and it is generally cut to the length of 1 1 feet ; there is another kind of palm, which is called montaqui, the leaves of which serve for covering the houses of the poor, and the shoots or buds for making a very argreeable sallad ; the heart of the tree is reduced to a flour, of wliich sweet cakes are made, and eaten instead of bread, for in this province neither wheat nor vines are cultivated, the climate being unfavourable to both. It abounds in various species of canes, which serve to bind together the timbers of w hich the houses are constructed ; one of these species is called huembe, with which bells, though of great w'eight, are hung. In this province are all kinds of fruits, various birds, tigers, bears, wild boars, deer, and other wild animals ; amongst the fruits of the wild trees are some w'hich grow, not upon the branches, but upon the trunk itself; that which is called huaipuru resembles a large cherry in colour and flavour, and this, as well as others which are equally well tasted, serve as food for an infinite variety of birds ; an equal abundance of fish is likewise found in the neighbouring rivers. Here is cultivated rice, also maize, sugar-cane, j/ucas, camotes, See. and some wild wax is found in the trunks of trees ; being furnished by various kinds of bees. At the distazice of 20 leagues to the s. of the capital, are four settlements of Chiriguanos Indians, governed by their own captains, but subject, in some measure, to this government, from being in friendship Avith it, and trading with the Spaniards in wax, cotton, and maize. Hitherto its natives have been

averse to embracing the Catholic religion, but in the incursions that have been made against us by the barbarians, they have beeiTdver ready to lend us their assistance, and in fact form for us an outwork of defence. In the aforesaid four settlements are 500 Indians, ivho are skilled in the use of the arrow and the lance, and are divided from the other barbarians of the same nation by the river Grande or Huapay. This river runs from Charcas to thee, by the side of the province of Tomina, and which, after making a bend in the figure of an half-moon, on tlie e. side of the province of Santa Cruz, enters the Marmore, first receiving another river describing a similar course, and known by the name of the Pirapiti. On the e. and on the opposite side, are some settlements of Chanaes Indians, the territory of whom is called Isofo. To the s. andv. zso. towards the frontiers of Tarija, and still further on, are very many settlements of the infidel Chiriguanos Indians; and in the valley of Ingre alone, which is eight leagues long, we find 26 ; and in some of these the religious Franciscan order of the college of Tarija have succeeded in making converts, though as yet in no considerable numbers. These Indians are the most valorous, perfidious, and inconstant of all the nations lying to the e, of the river Paraguay ; 4000 of them once fled for fear of meeting chastisement for their having traitorously put to death the Captain Alexo Garcia, a Portuguese, in the time of Don Juan III. king of Portugal; they were cannibals, and used to fatten their prisoners before they killed them for their banquets. Their treaties Avith the Spaniards, and the occasional visits these have been obliged to pay them in their territories, havm induced them nearly to forget this abominable practice ; but their innate cruelty still exists, and particularly against the neighbouring nations, upon Avhom they look down Avith the greatest scorn ; they have increased much, and are now one of the most numerous nations in America; they are extremely cleanly, so much so that they Avill go down to the rivers to Avash themselves even at midnight, and in the coldest season. The Avomen also, immediately after parturition, plunge themselves into the Avater, and coming home, lay themselves down upon a liltle mound of sand, Avhich, for this purpose, they have in their houses. The inhabitants of this province amount to 16,000, and besides the capital, Avhich is San Lorenzo de la Frontera, there are only the following settlements :

Porongo, Chilon,

Samaipata, Desposorios,

Valle Grazidc, Santa Ro>a,