95 



and their good faith in contracts of this kind has 

 always been highly applauded.* 



* The Spaniard who engages in this trade, applies directly to 

 the heads of families. When he has obtained the necessary per- 

 mission, he proceeds to all the houses, and distributes indiscrimi- 

 nately his merchandize to all those who present themselves. 

 When he has completed his sale, he gives notice of his departure, 

 and all the purchasers hasten to deliver to him, in the first vil- 

 lage that he arrives at, the articles agreed upon ; and never has 

 there been an instance of the least failure of punctuality....7?uj/7ia/'* 

 History. 



The following is extracted from the Compendium of the Geo- 

 graphical, Natural, and Civil History of Chili, printed in Bologna, 

 1776. " The Spaniards who live in the province of Maule, and near 

 the frontiers of Araucania, carry on a commerce with those peo- 

 ple, which consists in supplying them with iron ware, bits for 

 bridles, cutlery, grain and wine. This trade is conducted altoge- 

 ther by the way of barter, as it is not possible to persuade the Arau- 

 canians to open the gold mines, nor to produce any of that metal. 

 The returns therefore are in fionchiy or Indian cloaks, of whicli 

 they receive more than forty thousand annually, in horned cattle, 

 horses, ostrich feathers, curiously wrought baskets, and other tri- 

 fles of a similar kind. This commerce, although generally pro- 

 hibited, is carried on in the Indian country, whither the traders go 

 with their merchandize by bye-roads, and deposit it in the cabins 

 of the natives, to whom they readily trust whatever they wish to 

 sell, certain of being punctually paid at the time agreed upon, 

 which is always the case, these Indians observing the greatest faith 

 in their contracts." 



