Chile. 373 



not one man of them would ever return to Germany on any con- 

 sideration whatever. 



At Sandy Point, in the Straits of Magellan, founded by 

 Commodore Byron in 1764, a pastoral development is taking 

 place on Australian lines. This place is the scene of Sarmiento's 

 disastrous colony. Four hundred men and 30 women were left 

 there, and by the end of the second winter 15 men and three 

 women were left alive. A solitary survivor was taken away by 

 Cavendish in 1587. But at Sandy Point there is a thriving town 

 of 7000 or 8000 inhabitants, and in Tierra del Fuego Scotch and 

 New Zealand shepherds with collies watch over thousands of 

 sheep. The company which owns this land is said to have 

 thriven exceedingly. My information leads me to think that for 

 every ;^ioo originally subscribed is now worth ;j{^3ioo. All 

 depends on the simple fact that the sheep corresponds to the 

 quanaco, and that the cold, inclement climate produces fine wool. 

 At present many land companies are starting all along the great 

 Moreno valley round the big lakes ; but I should warn you that 

 though there is rich and good land and excellent grazing, there 

 are also many dry, arid tablelands, where even the ostrich hunter 

 dare not go for fear of losing his horse and dogs by thirst. 



Sawmills, tanyards, etc., are often German. Frenchmen are 

 also common in Chile, and they have a large share in working 

 the vineyards, in clothing, articles of luxury, and all sorts of 

 expensive and dainty frivolity. A Frenchman introduced the 

 snail Helixaspera, which is a Parisian dainty, and it is now a 

 pest in every vineyard. The richer Chilian families often go to 

 Paris, and all endeavour to keep up with Paris fashions. Thus 

 the Chilian lady begins to spoil her complexion w^ith powder and 

 paint at a very early age. The streets of Santiago are paraded 

 by jeunease doree of an effeminate and languid type, who make 

 admiring remarks and criticisms On the ladies that pass. " Has 

 not the little one a sympathetic appearance!" No lady ever 

 dares to walk in the street without an escort. The ladies are 

 usually invisible until twelve and one o'clock. After dinner, In 

 the beautiful cool evenings of Chile, all the better classes patrol 

 the squares or plazas, which are often beautifully laid out with 

 trees and flowering shrubs, while an excellent band plays. The 

 children attend this evening parade. Even quite small girls of 

 four or five years old will take care to throw the sunshine of her 



