THE NATURAL HISTORY OF CHILI. CHAPTER I. ated Situation, Climate, and Natural Phenomena. CHILI, a country of South America, is situupon the South Sea or Pacific Ocean, between the 24th and 45th degrees of south latitude, and the 304th and 308th degrees of longitude from the meridian of Ferro. Its length is estimated at 1260 geographical miles, but it varies in breadth as the great range of mountains, called the Cordilleras or the Andes, approach or recede from the sea; or, to speak with more precision, as the sea approaches or retires from those mountains. Between the 24th and 32d degrees of latitude, the distance of the sea from the mountains is about 210 miles; from the 32d to the 37th it is but 120; and in the broadest part of Chili, near the Archipelago of Chiloé, it is little less than 300 miles. In calculating from these various extents, VOL. I. C the surface of Chili may be estimated at 378,000 square miles. SECT. I. Limits.-Chili is bounded upon the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Peru, on the east by Tucuman, Cujo and Patagonia, and on the south by the land of Magellan. It is separated from all these countries by the Cordilleras, which form an insurmountable barrier on the land side, while the sea renders it secure upon that quarter. The few roads which lead to Chili from the neighbouring provinces are impassible, except in summer, and are so narrow and dangerous that a man on horseback can with difficulty pass them.* The extent which modern geographers assign to Chili is much greater than that which the inhabitants allow it; the former usually comprehend with There are about eight or nine roads which cross the Cordilleras of Chili, of which that leading from the province of Aconcagua to Cujo is the most travelled. This road, which cannot be passed in less than eight days, is bordered on one side by the deep beds which the Chile and the Mendoza, two considerable rivers, have worn there; on the other side, by very lofty and perpendicular mountains. It is so narrow and incommodious, that, in many places, travellers are obliged to quit their mules, the only animal that can be employed, and to proceed on foot; nor does there a year pass when some loaded mules are not precipitated from these roads into the rivers. These precipices, however, do not follow the whole course of the road; for occasionally it passes over very agreeable and pleasant plains, where travellers halt to refresh themselves. In these places the Incas, when they conquered Cusco and the northern provinces of Chili, caused some stone houses to be constructed for the accommodation of their officers; one of which has been ruined, but the others still remain entire. The Spaniards have built some more, for the greater conveRience of travellers. in it, Cujo, Patagonia, and the land of Magellan. But these countries are not only separated from it by natural limits, but their climate and productions differ; their inhabitants have countenances totally unlike the Chilians, and their language and customs have no resemblance.* SECT. II. Name.-The writers upon America have given various derivations of the name of Chili, which are either wholly false, or founded on absurd conjectures. It is certain, however, that it was known by its present name long before the arrival of the Spaniards. The inhabitants derive the name from certain birds of the thrush kind, that are very common in the country, and whose note has some resemblance to the word Chili. And it is not improbable, that the first tribes, who settled there, considered this note as a good omen, and named the country accordingly.† Although the principal mountain of the Cordilleras is the natural termination of Chili to the east, I comprehend within its confines not only the western vallies of that mountain, as necessarily attached to it, but also the eastern; as, though not compris. ed within its natural limits, having been occupied by Chilian colonies from time immemorial. The colonists who went from the southern part of Chili to settle the Archipelago of Chiloé, an emigration that took place some ages prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, called those islands Chil-hue, which signifies a district or province of Chili, influenced, undoubtedly, by the desire of preserving the memory of their original country; and all the Chilians, those who have continued free as well as the subjugated, call their country Chili-mapu, that is, the land of Chili, and its language Chili-dugu, the language of SECT. III. Natural Divisions.-Chili naturally divides itself into three parts, the first comprehending the islands; the second, Chili properly called; and the third, the Andes, or the country occupied by that range of mountains. The islands that belong to Chili are the three Coquimbanes, Mugillon, Totoral, and Pajaro. These islands are desert; and are said to be six or eight miles in circumference. The two islands of Juan Fernandez; one of which, known by the name of Isola de Terra (the shore-island) from its being the nearest to the continent, is about 42 miles in circumference. Lord Anson, who remained there some time, describes it as a terrestrial paradise; it is at present inhabited by the Spaniards. The other, which bears the name of Masafuera, (the more distant) is smaller, and although its appearance is as beautiful and inviting as that of the Isola di Terra, it has remained till the present time uncultivated and uninhabited. The island of Carrama. This is rather a rock than an island capable of cultivation. Quirinquina, at the entrance of the harbour of Conception, and Talca or Santa Maria, are two islands of about four miles in length; and are the property of two wealthy inhabitants of Conception. Mocha. This island, which is more than 60 miles in circumference, is handsome and fertile. It was in the last century inhabited by the Spaniards, but is at present deserted. The Archipelago of Chiloé, with that of the Chones, which is dependant upon it, comprehends eighty two |