184 



founded in tlie principal island the city of Castro 

 and the port of Chacao. 



The islands of the Archipelago amount to eighty, 

 and, like most other islands, have been produced by 

 earthquakes, owing to the s^reat number of volcanoes 

 with which that country formerly abounded. Every 

 part of them exhibits the most unquestionable marks 

 of fire. Several mountains in the great island of 

 Chiloe, w^hich has given its name to the Archipe- 

 lago, are composed of basaltic columns, which, 

 whatever may be said to the contrary, could have 

 been produced only by the operation of fire. 



The native inhabitants, though descended from 

 the continental Chilians, as their appearance, their 

 manners and their language all evince, are neverthe- 

 less of a very different character, being of a pacific 

 or rather a timid disposition. They made no oppo- 

 sition, as we have already observed, to the handful of 

 Spaniards whocametherctosubjugate them, although 

 their population is said to have exceeded seventy 

 thousand ; nor have they ever attempted to shake off 

 the yoke until the beginning of the present century, 

 \vhen an insurrection of no great importance was ex- 

 cited, which was soon quelled. The number of in- 

 habitants at present amounts to upwards of eleven 

 thousand ; they are divided into seventy-six dis- 

 tricts or Ulmenates, the greater part of which are 

 subject to the Spanish commanders, and are obliged 

 to render personal service for fifty days in the year, 

 according to the feudal laws, which are rigidly ob- 

 served in this province, notwithstanding they have 

 been fora long time abolished throughout the rest 

 of the kingdom. 



