OVALLE*S HISTORICAL RELATION OF CHILE. 9^ 



Neither would the trade of New Spain receive any damage at all from this ; for thofe 

 countries could not have them from Peru and Chile fo eafily as from Europe ; and fo Spain 

 would fend lefs, only fo much as is carried to the Philippines from New Spain, which 

 -cannot be much ; for the charge of carrying thofe European commodities from Vera 

 Cruz, to be embarked again for the Philippines, is very confiderable, it being at leaft 

 one hundred and fixty leagues by land from the Vera Cruz to Acapulco, which is the *5«/*«^'> 

 port where they are to be embarked ; after which, they have a navigation of three f'"**^'" 

 months ; and then, there being not always conveniences of Ihjpping in Acapulco, thofe ^ 

 commodities are kept fo long that they are fpoiled ; and it is feen by experience how 

 little of this trade turns to account : but it would be otherwife, if thefe commodities 

 were carried from Chile, fmce in two or three months, always in a temperate climate, 

 they might fail with a conftant fouth wind, which blows all the fummer infallibly, and 

 fo bring the produQ: of Chile in a good condition to the Philippines. This commerce, 

 though it would accommodate all parties, yet it muft be confelfed, it would be mod 

 beneficial to Chile, which would thereby have more vent for its produdt, and acquire 

 more people to cultivate its natural fertility. 



There have been two obflacles to this projeft, which have hindered its taking : the 

 firfl is, the difficulty of paffmg the flraight of Magellan, becaufe it being fo much ele- 

 vated towards the pole, it cannot be paffed but in certain months of the year, which, 

 if thofe who attempt it do not hit, they are in danger of perifhing, as in elfefl it has 

 happened to fome fquadrons of fhips, as I lliall relate in the next chapter ; though 

 others have paffed it very luckily in its proper feafon, the flraight itfelf having, as we 

 have feen, many good harbours and flickers for fhips. 



The fecond obftacle is the fame that keeps the port of Buenos Ayres from being 

 frequented, (for elfe all the treafure of Peru might be fent that way ;) and it is, that 

 the courfe of trade is fettled the other way, notwithftanding the great charge the crown 

 is at to have two fleets, the one in the South, and the other in the North-Sea, only to 

 fecure this pafTage ; and that with the lofs of fo many Spaniards' lives, that in the hof- 

 pital of Panama only, there was buried, as they told me when I went that way in the 

 year 1630, above fourteen thoufand perfons ; and what mufl we guefs then in the 

 ports of Carthagena and Puerto Bello, which have been the fepulchre of fo many 

 Europeans ? 



Notwithftanding all thefe mifchiefs, this way is continued to maintain thofe cities 

 already founded in thofe parts ; though it is mofl certain, that the fame end, of carry- 

 ing the filver to Spaiti, might be attained by one only fleet, with lefs danger of the fea. 

 By that courfe the galleons would fail always in deep water, and not run the hazards 

 they do between Carthagena and the Havanna, between which places they are fain- to 

 found all the v/ay, and keep the lead going, to avoid the many fhoals that are in thofe 

 feas, and in the canal of Bahama afterwards : befides that, the dangers of ficknefs 

 would be avoided ; for the Spaniards find by experience, that at Buenos Ayres they 

 are healthy, that being in the temperate climate correfponding to that of Europe. 



And for the fame reafon the navigation between Chile and the Philippines is not put 

 in ufe ; becaufe the courfe of things being once fettled one way, it is very hard to 

 change them, though to a better. I fhall not purfue this matter any further, becaufe 

 it feems to touch the flate and government, which is not my defign : perhaps time will 

 bring all things to pafs ; and that thofe of Chile themfelves will venture to find out 

 this vent for their produd. All confifts in trying ; for the advantages on both fides 

 would be fo manifeft, that the fweet of them would foon make the way eafy, and that 

 >trade would wonderfully enrich Chile and Peru, fmce they might bring back to thofe 



o 2 kingdoms 



