371 



Notwithstandiug the quantity of rain which falls, the climate 

 is not unhealthy ; but never had people more cause to believe 

 literally that the ground was cursed to bring forth thorns and 

 thistles, and that it is the punishment of man to eat bread 

 with the sweat of his brow than these poor Chilotes. They 

 are proofs of the authenticity of this anathema, says their 

 historian ; for perhaps there are no other people in the world 

 who labour so hard, and procure so little. Such is their 

 poverty, that there is no iron among them, or at least so little, 

 that the family which happens to possess an axe, lays it by as 

 a treasure. Their substitute for the plotigh consists in two 

 separate stakes, about seven or eight feet long ; one end is 

 sharp, the other inserted in a round ball. These they take 

 one in each hand, fix the point against the ground, and force 

 the ends on with the body, which is protected with a sheep- 

 skin during this rude exertion. Laborious as this mode must 

 needs be, even in the lightest soil, it is rendered still more so 

 by the myrtle-roots which overspread the open country. The 

 little corn which is raised can never be left to ripen, because 

 of the rains ; they cut it before it is ripe, and hang its sheaves 

 in the sunshine, if the sun happens to shine, otherwise they 

 l^t it dry within doors. Bread is of course a delicacy re- 

 served for great occasions ; and so little is the ordinary stock 

 of corn, that many families let it remain in the ear till it is 

 wanted for use. Good potatoes supply the want of bread, anc? 

 Chilo6 produces better than any part of Peru. 



Apples and strawberries are their only fruit ; these are good, 

 and plentiful. The woods produce a plant called quilineja, 

 nmch resembling the esparto of Spain, from which they manu- 

 facture their cables, and with various leafless parasitic plants, 

 which supply the want of smaller cordage. A species of wild 

 cane serves to roof their houses, and its leaves are the fodder 

 of the few horses which are kept, A tree, which the Spaniards 

 call alerse, and the Indians lahual, grows abundantly upou that 

 part of the continent which is included in this province, and 



Bb2 



