30 



DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY. 



cial advantages than any harbor in the South Pacific. Besides being sufficiently extensive to 

 accommodate all the transporters of goods the entire nation can ever require, it has neither 

 obstacles nor danger to prevent access by the most ordinarily intelligent masters, is amply pro- 

 tected from storms, is within a temperate and salubrious climate, and is the natural outlet 

 to a country of unsurpassed fertility, from which may be obtained valuable mineral as well as 

 agricultural products. At one time many believed that these great local advantages would 

 build up Concepcion, at the expense of Santiago, or, in fact, that the former must inevitably 

 become the capital of the new republic. And such would have been the case with an enterprising 

 commercial population ; but this result is no longer possible ; too much influence, priestly as 

 well as pecuniary, has been concentrated at Santiago, ever to permit such translation. Had 

 it not been that the Indians hemmed them in on all sides, and no settlement was safe from their 

 raids much beyond musket-range of the town, poor agriculturists as they were, the people of Con- 

 cepcion would have offered such amounts of produce for export as would have created a far 

 more extensive city than now exists. Indians, earthquakes, and neglect of its interests by the 

 Central government, have prevented its wealth and resources from being fully developed. The 

 former, like all of their origin elsewhere, are disappearing under the vices and diseases sown 

 by the white race ; and already so much of the land about the Biobio has been brought under 

 cultivation, that, within a few years, foreigners have erected extensive mills for grinding the 

 large quantities of wheat grown. Most of the flour has latterly found its way abroad to 

 California and Peru ; though a large portion, together with nearly all the wine and other pro- 

 ducts of the soil, are still sent to Valparaiso and other northern ports. The largest number 

 of vessels known to enter the bay of Concepcion, in any one year, was during 1850. Of all 

 nations the number was 363, of native 104, of American 198. A very large proportion of 

 the last were en route for California, and stopped here for refreshments ; and others, whaling 

 ships, called for the same purpose. The total number of vessels which entered the port during 

 the four years ending with 1851, and their tonnage, are shown in the subjoined table. 



During the latter half of 1851, whilst the port was under blockade, and the province in 

 rebellion against the government, only six American vessels entered. 



Under Spanish rule, the bay of Concepcion was well protected by fortifications which the 

 immediate vicinity of their warlike neighbors compelled them to preserve in order ; but accord- 

 ing to the last report (1851) from the Minister of War, in my possession, the two forts were in 

 very bad repair, and needed new batteries. Only eleven guns were then mounted. 



From the number of vessels frequenting it, its capacity, and security, Coquimbo bay, in 

 latitude 29 56', next claims attention. Its form and dimensions are those of a quadrant of a 

 circle with a semi-diameter of about two and a half miles. On the west, south, and east, it is 

 well sheltered. To the north it is open; yet as there are never tempestuous winds from this 

 last direction, the anchorage is regarded as perfectly secure at all seasons, the only losses of 

 vessels being through gross carelessness. Usually the winds are from the south and west, 

 which causes a current to the northward, between the rocky promontory bounding the western 

 side and the Pajaros Niiio's, two rocky inlets to the northwest of it. If it fall cairn whilst a 



