WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES — VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 733 



1936. In this Kingdom there are very large rivers, swollen in 

 winter with water from the rains and in summer with the great 

 freshets from the snow melting under the sun up on the Cordillera 

 Nevada. These all run from E. to W., to the Pacific; with them 

 they irrigate their property and fields. They are utilized for a dis- 

 tance of about 40 leagues, in which irrigation produces large amounts 

 of wheat, corn, barley, chickpeas, lentils, peas (porotos), and other 

 cereals and vegetables, which yield abundantly; they raise a few 

 potatoes. The fanega of wheat is usually worth 8 reals ; they nor- 

 mally ship large amounts to Lima when they need it there, and it 

 is also taken for His Majesty's camp and army, for the soldiers' 

 sustenance. 



There are quantities of vineyards around Santiago and on the 

 farms; every year they get more than 200,000 jugs of wine from 

 them ; that was the figure in the year 161 4, when they made the 

 inspection of that Kingdom. In the 3 preceding years they had 

 planted 498,500 vines, and many more have been set out since then ; 

 the land is very fertile and the vine grows thick, strong, and sturdy ; 

 they treat it with gypsum and ferment (cocido) as is done in many 

 places. It is all consumed within the country ; some is taken for 

 His Majesty's army to the city of La Concepcion. 



1937. The residents of Santiago possessed in the district of the 

 city 39,250 cattle, the yearly increase of which was 13,500 ; quantities 

 are slaughtered every year for tallow ; they raise oxen for plowing 

 and for their carts. Every young steer is worth 4 8-real pesos ; 

 an ox broken to work, 8; when a herd is sold, it is at the rate of 



12 reals a head. There were on the ranches in the district 4,278 

 mares, and their annual increase, 1,200; each is worth 4 reals. Riding 

 horses are worth from 16 to 20 8-real pesos ; sumpter horses, 8 to 10; 

 choice fine steeds, from 100 to 200 pesos. 



They had in the district 323,956 goats, whose annual increase was 

 94,764; they slaughter quantities of gelded males and of females, 

 and get over 2,500 quintals of tallow from them annually, worth 



13 8-real pesos a quintal, and 25,100 pieces of cordovan leather, 

 which they ship to Callao for Lima, since it is the best in the King- 

 dom. Before tanning, each sells for 16 reals ; tanning each piece 

 comes to 3I reals. There were 623,825 sheep, whose annual increase 

 was 223,944; they slaughter great numbers of them and get on the 

 average 7,650 quintals of tallow from them every year. The usual 

 price of a sheep is 2 reals, and a dressed mutton (carnero) the same, 

 and in the city, 4. They are large, fat, and very good. 



