V/ 



Pedro Valdivia, on his first entering Chili^ 

 brought with him the monks of the order of 

 Mercy, and about the year J553 introduced the 

 Dominicans and strict Franciscans. The Au- 

 gustins established themselves there in 1595, 

 and Hospitallers of St. John of God about the 

 year 1615. These religious orders have all a 

 number of convents, and the three first form 

 distinct jurisdictions. The brothers of St. John 

 of God have the charge of the hospitals, under 

 a commissary, who is dependant upon the pro- 

 vincial of Peru. These are the only religious 

 fraternities now in Chili. The Jesuits, who 

 came into Chili in 1593 with the nephew of 

 their founder, Don Martin de Loyola, formed 

 likewise a separate province. Others have se- 

 veral times attempted, but without success, to 

 form establishments, the Chilians having always 

 opposed the admission of new orders among 

 them. In St. Jago and Conception are several 

 convents of nuns, but they are the only cities 

 that contain them. 



The cities are built in the best situations in 

 the country. Many of them^ however, would 

 have been better placed fpr the purposes of com- 

 merce upon the shores of the large rivers. This 

 is particularly the case with those of more recent 

 construction. The streets are straight, intersect- 

 ing each other at right angles, and are thirty-six 

 French feet in breadth. On account of earth- 



