284 Voyage of the Novara. 



unexampled prosperity. The influx of specie did not fail to 

 stimulate activity in every other occupation as well, and was 

 mainly instrumental in working the mines more systemati- 

 cally, and thus making them more productive than hitherto. 



The exportation to California speedily increased ten-fold, 

 and within two years had increased nearly 2,500,000 piastres 

 (£525,000). 



"When the gold fever had a few years later abated some- 

 what in California, and the settlers there began to grow grain 

 for themselves, the Cliilean exports thither dwindled away, 

 till, about 1857, they had sunk to a minimum hardly worth 

 mentioning. But meanwhile a second, thougli rather more 

 distant, market was found for Chilean exports, by the dis- 

 covery of not less productive gold-fields in Australia, the 

 imports into which from Valparaiso, despite the enormous 

 distance, proved so immensely remunerative that the ventures 

 of former years to California were quite eclipsed.* 



Leaving the Custom-house buildings, we climbed up the 

 Quebrada de Juan Gomez, one of the numerous narrow valleys 

 or clefts which, spangled on both acclivities vidth villas, 

 usually thatched with shingle, impart to the environs of Val- 

 jjaraiso so peculiar an appearance. The most extraordinary 

 of these is the Cerro de Carretas, a hill from 200 to 300 feet 



* In one single year (1854), the imports into Australia of Chilean grain amounted 

 to £630,000. In a good year Chile produces 2,500,000 fanegas (920,755 quarters) of 

 wheat, 4,500,000 fanegas (1,855,054 quarters) of barley, and 180,000 fanegas (16,0/1 

 tons) of beans. The /ane^rt varies in weight according to the article measured; thus 

 a fanega of wheat is 165 lbs., of barley 155 lbs., and of beans 200 lbs. 



