373 



enlathif raediam, anrl trade is therefore carried ou by barter. 

 This would leave the islanders at the mercy of the Lima mer- 

 chants, if it were not for the interference of government. 

 When the first sliip arrives the cabildo, or municipality of 

 San Carlos, fixes the price iu money at which every thing shall 

 t>e rated. It is obvious that such an interference is absolutely 

 accessary, the Chilots being obliged, when they bought, to 

 pay what the seller chose to demand, and when they sold, t 

 take what the purchaser chose to give. Still it would ma- 

 terially benefit them if they could export their goods them- 

 selves ; but tl*e whole Archipelago does not contain one vessel 

 large enough for a voyage to the ports of Peru, or even Chjii. 

 The soldiers who were formerly paid in clothes and other 

 ffects, are, by a late regulation, that is about eighteen or 

 twenty years ago, to be paid in specie. If this be continued, 

 it must have produced an important change in Chiloe. The 

 militia of the Archipelago consists of 1,569 men, including 

 officers : they do garrison duty, but receive no pay, nor even 

 ratios. San Carlos has a garrison of regular troops, consisting 

 of 33 artillerymen, 53 dragoons, and 53 infantry. 



There are but two classes of people m Chiloe, Spaniards 

 and Indians, no negroes, and no mixed breed. Why there 

 are uo negroes is explained by the poverty of the islanders ; 

 how it has happened that the other races have not intermingled 

 is not explained. This is the more remarkable, becauise no- 

 where, perhaps, has so extraordinary a change in language 

 taken place as among tliese islands; during the last half 

 century that of the Indian inhabitants has changed : they now 

 speak a language of which the words are Spaiiish, but all 

 the uiflections, syntax, and idioms, Chi/lcse, that is to say,* 

 Moluche. 



The Spaniards, both men and women, go barefoot, except 



'* This very remarkable fact is noticed by IlerVBS in his great worJf 

 $ipon languages. Agueros has overlooked it. 



B b3 



