CHILI. -27 



NOTICES OF THE MISSIONARY, FATHER ALDAY. 

 TRANSLATED FROM THE SPANISH MANUSCRIPT. 



The history of the kingdom of Chih was written 

 from the beginning, by Garcilaso de la Vega, 

 mixed with his history of Peru. The celebrated 

 Ercilla commemorated it in heroic verse, to the end 

 of his own mission. Father Ovalle, at Rome, wrote 

 an excellent account of the deeds and misfortunes 

 of this kingdom, from its foundation up to his 

 time ; and, lastly, the work was finished by Abate 

 Molina, who wrote and executed this history in all 

 its parts. This learned ex-jesuit treats, admirably, 

 of the mineral and vegetable kingdom ; so that no- 

 thinsr can be added to what he has said. The riches 

 which Chili contains in its bosom are inexhaustible ; 

 its soil is the best adapted to all the productions 

 which enrich Europe, as it enjoys an equal degree 

 of temperature on its extreme frontiers; it has 

 neither the storms that are fatal to the silk-worm, 

 nor any hail to injure the fruits of the earth. No 

 beast of prey haunts its mountains which could 

 threaten the inhabitants, and not a single poison- 

 ous reptile is found within its limits. 



The Indians who inhabit the country, from the 

 river Biobio to Osorno, are divided into four pro- 

 vinces, which extend like four zones, from north 



