SANTIAGO. 109 



bundles of clothing, and n basket of tobacco, for distribution (there being no prohibition against 

 smoking), ami they i'mmd but one who actually deelined their bounty. II.-. j,.M, r fellow! had 

 IH-I-II M-i/.ed in tin n.nvc -van. of ammunition to Aconcagua last year, and condemned an though 

 taken in urtuul revolt. With a spirit of generosity rivalling that of the fair almoner, he 

 en treat cil her to give to others really in need ; for himself, he had no wants a self-denial 

 which niav be appreeiated when it is known that the only food furnished by government in 

 bread, boiled beans, and water ; and that neither clothes nor bedding are supplied. He had 

 known better days, arid the keeper told us that his health had been greatly impaired since 

 he entered the prison. It might be supposed that the arrival of such a visitor amid a mass of 

 human beings suffering great want and hardships, as do the majority who are without charita- 

 ble friends to succor them, would be hailed as that of an angel ; but the truth must be acknow- 

 ledged : though words of thanks were spoken and the blessings of God and the Virgin invoked 

 upon her, the instances when they appeared to come in tones of the heart were exceedingly 

 rare ; the same stereotyped expressions came from all mere lip service. It made my heart 

 ache to learn that there were so many of my kind from whom the sentiment of true gratitude 

 was so distant. Not one was omitted. Some of those who had been accident ly overlooked 

 clamorously made known their presence, and almost demanded as a right a share equal to that 

 received by their fellows. Even the officers received the delicately offered gifts, the painful 

 expressions of their countenances telling of the privations to which they were subjected, and 

 contradicting their disclaimer of want. 



The management of the institution is confided to a superintendent, who is a minister (judge) 

 of the court of appeals, a chaplain, a physician, and stewards, with a military guard and their 

 officers. The chaplain receives $500, the medical officer $300, and the other employe's, exclu- 

 sive of the military, about $2,500 per annum in the aggregate. The duty of the superintend- 

 ent is of a supervisory rather than of an executive character ; and he who is charged with the 

 cure of souls, being better paid, probably attends better than the mere curerof the body;* the 

 guard only being surely called upon to watch this castle of crime and idleness. 



For tbe year 1850 Congress made the following appropriations: " Maintenance of prisoners 

 and the troops that guard them, repairs of tools, and other expenses, $16,000," of which 

 $14,090 was spent ; and "for clothing of the criminals, $600," not one farthing of which was 

 thus applied ! At the same time, there were no less than 346 convicts ; so that if we make a 

 reasonable deduction for the diet of the numerous guard, for tbe high prices of all repairs in 

 Chile, and other expenses, eacb prisoner will bave been an expense to the treasury of nearly 

 $40. Of tbe convicts there were condemned: 



For cattle stealing 94 Counterfeiting money 5 



Other robberie* 100 Bigamy 3 



Desertion 72 Rape 3 



Murder and homicide 33 Bestiality 3 



Asciiult and wounding 91 Oilier crimes and vagrancy .... 13 



Among them, 178 bad conducted themselves commendably during the year, 58 passably 

 well, 76 dubiously, and 28 viciously. 



At the same time, there were 488 convicts at the colony of Magellan ; 90 of whom had been 

 added during tbe year, principally because of participation in the revolutionary difficulties. 

 Many years ago the island of Juan Fernandez served as the Botany Bay of the republic, and 

 more recently Port Famine; but both proving objectionable, a change has been made to its 

 present location at Punta Arenas. Its governorf is an officer of the navy, for the support of 

 whom in preserving order there are two companies of troops especially enlisted for the service; 

 government holding out as inducements free passage to their families and bounty lands after 



* During our visit one of the prisoners was seized with violent convulsions ; and though there wa probability of a fatal result, 

 no one appeared to think of sending into town for the Doctor, whose regular semi-tccMy viait had been made ou the preceding day. 

 t Since murdered by the prisoners, and replaced by Major Thilippi. 



