Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms, Volume 67

Countries of the Southern Continent, Outer Atlantic

One is called Venezuela original: 委內瑞辣 (Wěinèiruìlà); one is called Quito original: 塞多 (Sāiduō); likely referring to the administrative region or the Presidency of Quito. In each, officials were stationed to maintain control. In the 15th year of the Jiaqing reign 1810, because the United States Flag Country; original: 花旗國 (Huāqíguó) had already been established, the people of these lands also gathered in great numbers to expel the officials of the Spanish Luzon Kingdom; original: 呂宋國 (Lǚsòngguó). The author uses "Luzon" to refer to Spain because the Chinese primarily encountered the Spanish via their colony in the Philippines. They fought for eight years. In the 24th year of the Jiaqing reign 1819, they restored their independence and named the nation Colombia. Twelve years later 1831, the territory was divided into three countries which do not rule over one another.

The first is the great nation of New Granada original: 新加拉那大 (Xīnjiālānuàdà). To its east lie the two countries of Venezuela and Brazil original: 巴拉西利 (Bālàxīlì). To the west, it rests against the Great Sea the Pacific Ocean. To the south, it connects with the two nations of Brazil and Ecuador original: 厄瓜多爾 (Èguāduōěr). To the north, its border is the Antilles Sea the Caribbean.

The length of the country is approximately three thousand li, and the width is approximately one thousand five hundred li. The total land area is three hundred and forty thousand square li. The population consists of over 1,302,000 people original: 一兆三億二萬餘口 (yī zhào sān yì èr wàn yú kǒu). In this context, zhao represents one million and yi represents one hundred thousand.

The climate is humid and hot, particularly in the northern regions. The soil is rich and fertile, and the local products are most abundant. The entire nation is divided into eighteen departments. Bogotá original: 波哥大 (Bōgēdà) is the national capital, built in the middle of a plain. Another prominent region is called Antioquia original: 安的有基日 (Āndeyǒujīrì).