20 BETAGH*S ACCOUNt OF PERU. 



to give fuch a reprefentalion of it, as may enable the reader to comprehend the nature 

 of its trade, the manner in which it is connedted with the general commerce of Peru, 

 by which the wealth drawn from it is tranfmitted to Europe. It is in length, from 

 norih to fouth, about I200 miles, the breadth of it very uncertain; the air is very 

 temperate and wholefome, uniefs rendered otherwife by pe{tilential exhalations, that are 

 mod common after earthquakes, to which this country is very fubje61. The winter 

 rains, during the months of May, June, July, and Auguft, are exceffively heavy ; but 

 then, for eight months together, they have, generally fpeaking, fine weather. The 

 ibil is prodigioufly fertile, where it admits of cultivation ; fuch fruit trees as are carried 

 thither from Europe, come to the greatefl perfeftion ; fo that the fruit is coming for- 

 , ward all the year ; and it is common to fee apple-trees in that fituation, which we fa 

 Mtmt^ umch admire in orange-trees ; that is to fay, with bloffoms, apples juft formed, green 

 apples, and ripe fruit all at the fame time. The valleys, wherever they have any 

 moifture, wear a perpetual verdure; and the hills are covered with odoriferous herbs, 

 very ufefui in phyfic. There are trees of all forts, and fit for every kind of ufe ; info- 

 much that, independent of its gold mines. Chili might be well accounted one of the 

 richefl and fineft countries in the univerfe. And, indeed, there are fome places in it, 

 which are as beautiful as any thing the warmed imagination can paint : for inftance, the 

 town of Coquimbo, in lat. 30° fouth, a fhort mile from the fea. Handing on a green 

 rifing ground, about ten yards high, which nature has regularly foi-med like a terrace, 

 north and fouth, in a direft line, of more than half a mile, turning at each fide to the 

 eaftward. The firfl; fbreet makes a delightful walk, having the profpedlbf the country 

 round it, and the bay before it ; all this is fweetly placed in a valley ever green, and 

 watered with a river ; which, taking its rife from among the mountains, flows through 

 the vales ^nd meadows, in a winding ftream, to the fea. 



But notwithflanding all thefe advantages, this vaft country is very thinly inhabited ; 

 infomuch tha^, through its whole extent, there are fcarce five towns that deferve that 

 appellation, and but one city, which is that of St. lago ; throughout all the reft there 

 are only farms, which they call Eftancias, fo remote from one another, that the whole 

 country, as I have been informed from good hands, cannot raife 20,000 whites fit to 

 bear arms, and particularly St. lago 2,000 ; the reft are all meftizos, mulattos, and 

 Indians, whofe number may be three times as great, without including the friendly 

 Indians beyond the river Bio-bio, who are reckoned to amount to 15,000, whofe fide- 

 lity, however, is not much to be depended on. The trade of this country is chiefly 

 carried on by fea, and is at prefent rather in a declining than flourifhing condition. 

 The port of Baldivia was formerly very famous, on account of the very rich mines of 

 gold that were in its neighbourhood, which are now, in a great meafure, difufed ; fo 

 that it is only kept as a garrifon, and ferves in this refped to Peru, as the fortreffes on 

 the Barbary coaft do to Spain, viz. to receive malefactors, who are fent thither to ferve 

 againft the Indians. All the trade of that town confifts in fending ten or twelve (hips 

 a-year to Peru, laden with hides, tanned leather, fait meat, corn, and other provifions^ 

 which are to be had here in great plenty. 



The port of Conception is more confiderable, by reafon of their commerce with the 

 Indians, which are not fubjed to the Crown of Spain. Thefe Indians are of a copper 

 colour, have large limbs, broad faces, and coarfe lank hair. The nation of the Puelches 

 differ fomewhat from the reft, becaufe amongft them there are fome pretty white, and 

 who have a little colour in their cheeks, which is fuppofed to be owing to their having 

 fome European blood in their veins, ever fince the natives of this country revolted from 

 the Spaniards, and cutoff moft of their garrifons. They prcferved the women, and 



4 efpecially 



