22 REMARKS AND OriNIONS. 



the Americans, \vliose agents are the monks, siip- 

 phes it with all necessaries, but only for ready 

 money, without its turning its own productions to 

 advantage 5 and these same Americans, exclusively, 

 carry on the whale-fishery on its coasts. 



History has decided on the revolution to which 

 the United States of America ow^e their existence, 

 their prosperity, their rapidly increasing population 

 and power; and all the nations of Europe regard with 

 undissembled favour the struggle of the Spanish 

 colonies. The separation from the mother-country 

 is to be foreseen ; but it is doubtful when a wise, 

 tranquil development will seal the transition from 

 oppression to independence. 



The town of Mocha is regular, and of great 

 extent, but the houses low% and large, and pro- 

 vided with w^indows only towards the interior 

 court-yard. They are indeed built in a man- 

 ner well-adapted to frequent and violent earth- 

 quakes, but not for the cold of winter. They are 

 not acquainted with either chimnies, or stoves. 

 The poorer class have not even got a kitchen 

 hearth, and dress their victuals in the open air, 

 or under the entrance-hall. In the evening many 

 fires burn in the streets of Talcaguano, at which 

 the people warm themselves ; and we were ourselves 

 witnesses of a fire caused by this custom, which 

 reduced a house to ashes. The vineyards, which 

 produce the deHcious Conception wine, lie at a 

 considerable distance Irom the town. The wine 

 is brought, like the corn, in leathern sacks, and it is 



