22 



hatchets, and other edged tools, but in small 

 quantities, as they are rarely to be met with 

 in their sepulchres ; where, on the contrary, 

 hatchets made of a species of basalt are very 

 frequently found. It is remarkable, that iron, 

 unitersally supposed to have been unknown to 

 the American nations, has a particular name in 

 the Chilian language. It is called panilgue, and 

 the weapons made of it cMuquel, in distinction 

 from those made of other materials, which 

 are comprehended under the general name of 

 nulin. The smith was called ruthave, from the 

 verb ruthaUj which signifies to work in iron. 

 These circumstances give rise to a suspicion that 

 they not only were acquainted with this valuable 

 metal, but that they alio made use of it. But, 

 considering the silence of the first writers upon 

 America on this subject, notwithstanding the 

 inferences that may be drawn from hence, this 

 point must always remain undecided, unlei^s 

 pieces of iron should be found of incontestible 

 antiquity. 



They had also discovered the method of 

 making salt upon the sea shore, and extracted 

 fossil salt from several mountains that abounded 

 in that production. These they distinguished 

 by different names, calling the first chiadi, and 

 the other lilcochiadi, that is, salt of the water of 

 rocks. They procured [dyes of all colours for 

 their clothes, not only from the juice of plants. 



