M 



ovalle's historical relation of chile. 



is generally its extent from the fea to the famous Cordillera Nevada, or chain of moun- 

 tains covered with fnow (of which we fhall fpeak in its proper place,) yet in the divi- 

 fion of the bounds of the feveral governments of America, the king added to Chile 

 thofe vaft plains of Cuyo, which run in length as far as Chile does, and are above 

 twice as broad. 



The oppofite part of the world to this kingdom, is the meridian that paffes between 

 the ifland Taprobana of the ancients, which is Zeilon, and Cape Comorin, beginning 

 at twenty-fix degrees north of the equinodtial line. The inhabitants are properly an- 

 tipodes to thofe of Chile ; and thofe who inhabit the countries that reach from thirty- 

 feven degrees to forty-four of the moft wefterly parts of New Guinea, would be alfo 

 diametrically antipodes to the inhabitants of Caftille ; but it is yet uncertain, whether 

 that part of the world is land or water ; but this is certain, that it falls out in the di- 

 vifion of Caftille, and is oppofite to it, and is weft from Chile one thoufand feven 

 hundred leagues. 



This kingdom is comprehended in the third, fourth, and fifth climate : in that part 

 of it which is in the third climate, the longeft day is thirteen hours ; and in the fifth 

 climate, the day at longeft is about fourteen hours, and fomething more, quite contrary 

 to Europe, as being oppofite to it, but not diametrically ; for the longeft day in Chile 

 is St. Lucia's, and the (horteft St. Barnaby's j the fun is always there towards the north, 

 and the fliadows to the fouth. 



This is the fituation of the kingdom of Chile, which borders upon the north with 

 the province of Aracama, and the rich mines of filver of Potofi, where the kingdom 

 of Peru begins ; and on the fouth it has the great fea to the pole, and the iilands dif- 

 covered in it. Abraham Ortelius was of opinion, that there was on this fouth fide of 

 the kingdom of Chile, a land which was contiguous with New Guinea ; and this opi- 

 nion lafted till we were undeceived by thofe who having pafled by the ftraight of 

 St. Vincent, otherwife called the ftraight of Le Maire, went round that fouth land called 

 the Tierra del Fuego, and returned to the north fea by the ftraights of Magellan ; prov- 

 ing evidently the faid land to be an ifland, entirely feparated from any other land j as 

 I fhall fliew further in its proper place. 



Chile has on the eaft Tucuman and Buenos Ayres, and to the north-eaft Paraguay 

 and Brafil ; to the weft it has the South-Sea, which, according to the opinion of An- 

 tonio de Herrera, is all that is comprehended between Chile and China, and begins at 

 the Golden Cherfonefus, or the ifland of Sumatra j and that fea is in breadth, eaft and 

 weft, two thoufand feven hundred leagues. 



According to what has been faid, we may divide this kingdom into three parts : the 

 firft and principal is that which is comprehended between the Cordillera Nevada and 

 the South-Sea, which is properly called Chile. The fecond contains the iflands which 

 are fowed up and down upon its coaft as far as -the ftraights of Magellan. The third 

 contains the province of Cuyo, which is on the other fide of the fnowy mountains, 

 called the Cordillera Nevada, and run in length all along as far as the ftraights, and in 

 breadth extends to the confines of Tucuman. 



To begin then with that part which is moft properly called Chile : I confefs I had 

 rather the defcription of it had fallen to the lot of fome ftranger who had feen it ; for 

 then the danger of pafling for too partial for one*s own country, (to which are expofed 

 all thofe who write of it) would have been more eafily avoided, and fuch an one might 

 with lefs apprehenfion enlarge upon the excellent properties which God has been pleafed 

 to endow it with. The common opinion of all thofe who have come from Europe to 

 it, is, that its foil and its climate exceed all others they have feen ; though, perhaps, in 



9 that 



