

1839.] COMMERCE. 103 



really annoying animal to be found there. There are good 

 fishing grounds on the coast, at which whales, dolphins, cod, 

 pilchards, and other small fish, are caught. Now and then 

 a sea-dog is observed, but they are quite rare. Among the 

 birds are the great condor, several species of vultures, the 

 cormorant, the penguin, the cut-water or shear-bill, and the 

 snipe. Flocks of parrots and parroquets are found. Small 

 green parrots, not larger than finches, are caught in the in- 

 terior, tamed, and sold in the towns. But the most beautiful 

 and majestic bird is the swan, which is often seen sailing in 

 the bay of Valparaiso ; its body is of dazzling white, and its 

 neck and head are black. 



(7.) Chili is said to be the only American state, formerly 

 subject to Spain, whose commerce has increased since the 

 separation from the mother country ; and this single fact is, 

 of itself, a high encomium upon the enterprise and industry 

 of its inhabitants. Under the Spaniards, Chili had no inter- 

 course but with Peru and Buenos Ay res; now the vessels of 

 all the principal commercial nations on the globe frequent her 

 harbors. From 1825 to 1829, the annual average receipts 

 from customs were less than nine hundred thousand dollars ; 

 in 1834, they amounted to nearly one and a quarter million ; 

 and in 1841, they were but little short of two millions of 

 dollars. Linens are imported from Germany ; silks, paper, 

 leather, wines and brandy, from France ; manufactured 

 goods, hardware and iron, from Great Britain ; silks, nankeens, 

 tea and sugar, from China and the East Indies ; tobacco, oil, 

 spermaceti candles, sugar, and manufactured goods, from. the 

 United States; and various products from the different coun- 

 tries in South America. The principal exports are bullion, 

 copper, hides, tallow, pulse, wheat, fruits, and drugs. During 

 the year ending the 30th of June, 1847, the imports from, 

 and exports to the United States, amounted to about one 

 million seven hundred dollars ; there being a small balance 

 in favor of Chili. 



Valparaiso enjoys the honor of being the chief seaport town, 

 and is commonly called " The Port," by way of distinction. 



