98 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. [1839. 



and five fathoms near the shore. The town is about sixteen 

 miles from the mouth of the Valdivia, and was almost ruined 

 by an earthquake in 1837. It is the capital and market 

 town of the province of Valdivia, and has a large and rapidly 

 increasing trade. 



(5.) What has been said in regard to the style of dress 

 prevalent in Valparaiso and Santiago, is applicable to the 

 Chilenos generally, and especially so to the inhabitants of 

 the larger towns. Elsewhere, the old Spanish costumes are 

 more frequently met with among the better classes ; but the 

 dress of the common people is a mixture of Spanish and In- 

 dian. The latter are fond of bright colors. The males wear 

 a blue or brown poncho, over their shirt and trowsers, and 

 a steeple-crowned, small rimmed hat, beneath which is a 

 bright cotton handkerchief, tied on with strings under the 

 chin. In very warm weather the tall hat is laid aside for 

 the broad-leafed sombrero. The women wear gowns of 

 calico or woolen stuff, and mantillas, or bay etas, as at- 

 tractive in color and quality, as the ability of the wearer will 

 permit her to purchase. In the mining districts, a most pic- 

 turesque dress is worn by those who work in the mines. It 

 consists of a long shirt of dark baize, with a leathern apron 

 fastened around the waist by a bright-colored sash ; very broad 

 trowsers ; and a small cap of scarlet cloth fitting closely to 

 the head. 



The Chilians possess fewer vices than the Creoles of the 

 other Spanish colonies in South America, but they are fre- 

 quently dissipated and profligate in their habits, and, in the 

 towns, much too fond of dress and display. They are mod- 

 erate in their food, though addicted to drinking to excess. 

 They are less indolent, and more hardy than the Castilian 

 race generally ; more industrious and enterprising, and more 

 of a money-getting and money-loving people. Kindness and 

 courtesy characterize their intercourse with strangers ; yet 

 are they proud-spirited and high-mettled, somewhat jealous 

 in disposition, quick to take aflront, and of an unforgiving 

 temper. 



