9; 



tfll ttie earth in a very singular manner. About 

 three months before sowing-time they turn t!ieif 

 sheep upon their lands, changing their situation 

 every three or four nights. When the field is 

 sufficiently manured in this manner they strew 

 the grain over it. One of their strongest men 

 then attempts to harrow it by means of a machine 

 formed of two large sticks of hard wood made 

 sharp and fastened together, which he forces into 

 the ground with his breast, and thus covers the^' 

 seed. Notwithstanding this imperfect tillage, a 

 crop of wheat will yield them ten or twelve for 

 one. They also raise great quantities of barley, 

 heanSj peas, qiiinoa, and potatoes, which are the 

 largest and best of any in Chili. From the ex- 

 cessive moisture of the atmospherie, the grape 

 never acquires sufficient maturity to be made 

 into winc;, but its want is supplied by various 

 jcinds of cider, obtained from apples and other 

 \yild fruits of the country. ' 



The necessity that they are under of often 

 going from one island to another, where the sea 

 is far from deserving the name of the Pacific, 

 renders the Chilotes excellent sailors. Their 

 j^iragues (ire composed of three or five large 

 planks sewed together, and caulked with a 

 species of moss that grows on a shrub. These 

 are in great numbers throughout the whole of 

 the Archipelago, and are managed with sails 



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