214 SANTIAGO. 



are under control of foreigners, who manufacture boilers and other parts of distilling apparatus 

 on a more extensive scale. Of the first-named shops, the produce varies in price from STg to 

 56|- cents per pound, according to the size and workmanship of the article. Latterly a brass- 

 founder has also come to try his fortune at the capital ; and from the signs of activity and 

 sounds about his little establishment, he is driving a very good business. But the workers in 

 metal who find the most constant though probably the least lucrative employment, are the 

 blacksmiths, whose shops, both of natives and foreigners, are to be found in all parts of the 

 city. Ornamental bars for all the windows, bedsteads, cradles, and carriage, cart, and horse 

 trappings, in streets like these> give certain and incessant occupation, apart from the many other 

 demands for their services. As an art requiring rather strength and industry than capacity 

 or skill, native workmen soon rival strangers ; and thus, by competition, their wares are sold 

 at very equitable prices. 



Machinery for a cloth factory was brought out from France by a company which had secured an 

 exclusive privilege, and it may very shortly commence work ; though some who took part in the 

 adventure are no little doubtful of the result. Coarse, unfulled cloths, called bayetas, and 

 used for ponchos, trousers of men, and under-garments of women, are woven with hand-looms, 

 owned by poor individuals a rancho being its usual locale, and an old woman the operative. 

 They also weave blankets. Though substantially made and warm, these are neither so fine 

 nor so tastefully wrought as those brought from the southern provinces ; a remark which applies 

 to all their woollen fabrics. 



Ordinary qualities of leather are made at a number of tanneries in various parts of the 

 suburbs. As the oak (Quercus) is not found in Chile, they use instead the bark of the Lingue 

 (Laurus .), Peumo (Laurus jp.), and Panque (Gunnera scabrd), which is ground, or rather is 

 crushed, in a mill similar to those for pulverizing metallic ores, and is described in connexion 

 with the mineral products -of Atacama. From neglect in the vats, the leather is very often 

 burned, and is extremely worthless. France supplies the finer qualities, and raw hide is sub- 

 stituted for many purposes to which the tanned article is applied elsewhere. 



From the color of the garments worn by the lower classes and the appearances of their faces, 

 one would infer that not only soap but even water was difficult to be obtained. Yet the number 

 of those constantly occupied in making common varieties of the former, and in moulding can- 

 dles of tallow, probably exceeds all other trades except those of shoemakers and journeymen 

 tailors. To the present day, toilet soaps and stearine candles are either beyond their know- 

 ledge or facilities to manufacture. 



If we omit the workers in iron, leather, and cloth, whoever learns a mechanic art may in a 

 few years accumulate independence if he pursues his vocation industriously ; the instances not 

 being rare of foreign artisans, who have come to Chile within twenty years as shipwrights, 

 joiners, and house-carpenters, that are now worth more than $50,000 each. Such is the spirit 

 of emulation in society, and so exorbitant the prices demanded for furniture fashionable in 

 style, that many prefer sending to France and paying high duties rather than purchase home- 

 made goods. True, very little wood suitable for cabinet-work has, as yet, been brought to the 

 country ; and though carvers are beginning to imitate well, their products want the graceful 

 finish which their brother-chips abroad are able to give. 



The Intendente of the province is ex officio Mayor of the city ; and he is not only charged with 

 the preservation of public order and personal security, but, as the immediate representative of 

 the President, it is made his duty to watch over the prompt and proper administration of 

 justice, the legal collection and expenditure of public funds, the public schools and charitable 

 institutions, to admonish or remove certain judges in special cases, to act as a judge in others, 

 and even to interfere with the curates of the churches who neglect their duty or oppress their 

 parishioners. So says the law ; but in fact, except so far as regards the preservation of public 

 order, an Intendente is only an instrument of the Minister of the Interior, or central govern- 

 ment, for whose sanction he is obliged to refer every contemplated act of his administration. 



