ima,
the other to Tarma. The former crosses the Pampa of Bombon and the
Diezmo, and continues onward to the Pass of La Viuda. The latter leads
by way of the Tambo Ninacaca, and the village of Carhuamayo[74] to
Junin, passing near a very large lake, situated at the height of 13,000
feet above the sea. This lake is the Laguna de Chinchaycocha,[75] which
is twelve leagues long, and at its utmost breadth measures two leagues
and a half. It is the largest of the South American lakes, next to the
Laguna de Titicaca, which is eighty-four English miles long and
forty-one broad. As the lake of Chinchaycocha loses by various outlets
much more water than it receives from its tributary sources, it is
evident that it must be fed by subterraneous springs. Its marshy banks
are overgrown by totora (_Malacochaete Totora_), and are inhabited by
numerous water fowl. The Indians entertain a superstitious belief that
this lake is haunted by huge, fish-like animals, who at certain hours of
the night leave their watery abode to prowl about the adjacent pasture
lands, where they commit great havoc among the cattle. The southwestern
end of the lake is intersected by a marshy piece of ground, interspersed
with stones, called the Calzada, which forms a communication between the
two banks of the lake. At the distance of about half a league from the
lake is a village, which, under the Spanish domination, was called
Reyes. Adjacent to it is the celebrated Pampa of Junin, which, on the
24th of August, 1824, was the scene of a battle between the Spanish
forces, commanded by General Canterac, and the insurgents, headed by Don
Simon Bolivar. The result of this battle had an important influence on
the destiny of Peru. It is generally believed that treachery in the
Spanish army threw the victory into the hands of the insurgents. A few
days prior to the battle Bolivar is said to have received, from the
Spanish camp, a letter in cypher, which he transmitted for explanation
to his minister, Monteagudo, in Cerro de Pasco. The answer received
from the minister was, that the letter recommended Bolivar to attack
the enemy without a moment's delay, for that on the part of the
Spaniards the victory was insured to him. The bearer of the letter is
still living, and he does not deny that he was in the secret of the
whole plot. The insurgents were victorious, and in commemoration of
their triumph they gave to the village of Reyes, and to the whole
province, the name of