284 A VOYAGE TO BookVIII. 



from Santiago, in order to be more conveniently fitU' 

 atfd for trade; fince which it has gradually increafed. 

 To that at prefcnt it is both large and populous ; and 

 would be nil! larger were it not for its inconvenient fitu- 

 ation, (landing lo near the foot of a mountain, that . 

 a great part of the houfes are built on its acclivity, or 

 in its breaches. The broadeft and moil convenient 

 part is that along the coaft, but' this is very unpleafant 

 in v.'lnter, being fo expofed to the N. winds, that the 

 wavfs heat againft the walls of the houfes, fome of 

 which are built of nnburnt bricks, fome of ch.ilk and 

 pe^^bles, and others of bajareques. 



Va LP.'» R A ISO, htfides its pariih church, has a con- 

 vent of Fiancifcans, and another of Auguftines; but 

 very few religious, and the churches belonging to 

 them frnall and mean. It is inhabited by families of 

 Spaniards, and Cafts, both Mulattoes, and Meftizos. 

 In its ncighbouiiiood are feveral villages, and the great 

 number of farm houfes give the country a chearfui ap- 

 pearance. Here is a military governor nominated by 

 the king, wlio having the command of the garrifons 

 in the fevcrai ports, and of the militia of the place and 

 its dt- pendencies, ii> to take care that they are properly 

 difcipiuv d. 



Thü proxim.iry of this port to Santiago has drawn 

 hither all the commerce formerly carried on at that 

 city, 'i o this it owes its foundation, i- creafc, and 

 prefent profperity. At prcfcnt all the Callao fhips 

 which carry on the commerce between the two king- 

 doms come hither. The cargoes they bring are in- 

 deed but fnul!, confifting only of the goods already 

 mentioned, as not produced in Chili. But in this port 

 they take in wheat, tallow, cordovan leather, cordage, 

 and dried fruits, and with thefe return to Callao; and 

 a fhip has been known to make three voyages in one 

 fummcr, namely, between Novem.ber and June, during 

 whicii mtervai, the droves of mules and carriages from 

 all the farm houicb in the jurifdi^iion of Santiago, 

 bring frcfn fupplies to the warehoufes, that trade is 



carried 



