ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 667 



confederacy, by which means Conception, La Imperla, and Baldlvia, with fix fmaller 

 places, were deftroyed ; being the greatefl part of the places in this kingdom. Con- 

 ception, however, received frefh fuccours, the city was again repaired, and has con- 

 tinued ever fmce. 



Its latitude, according to an obfervation we made in the year 1 744, at Takaguana, 

 which lies exadly eaft and weft with the city, is 36^ 43' 15'' fouth, and its longitude 

 from the meridian of Teneriff, according to Father Fevillee, 303^ 18' 30". The city 

 is built on the fouth- weft fhore of a beautiful bay, on an uneven jfandy ground, and on 

 a fmall declivity, having a little river running through it. The city, in its extent, is 

 fcarce equal to one of the fourth clafs. The deftru6tion it fuffered in the dreadful 

 earthquake of 1730, occafioned all the houfes to be built low, though it had before 

 been fubjeO: to thefe fudden convulfions of nature. This was, however, the laft of 

 thofe remarkable for their melancholy confequences, which extended to Santiago, the 

 capital of the kingdom,' which was involved in the fame ruin. On the 8th of July, at 

 one in the morning, the firft emotions were felt, and the concuffions increafmg, the fea 

 retreated to a confiderable diftance ; but in a fmall time returned fo impetuoufly, and 

 with fuch a fwell, that it overflowed the whole city, and the neighbouring countries. 

 In this fudden calamity, the inhabitants had no other afylum than the neighbouring 

 eminences. This inundation was foon fucceeded by three or four fhocks ; and, at 

 about four in the morning, a little before day-break, the concuffions returned with the 

 moft tremendous violence, demolifhing the few buildings which had withftood the firft 

 fhocks, and the rapid motion of the fea. 



The houfes are all either of topias, or mud walls, or adoves, unburnt bricks j but 

 covered with tiles. The churches are fmall and mean ; the fame may be faid of the 

 Francifcan, Auguftine, and Dominican convents, as well as thofe belonging to the far- 

 thers of Mercy : but the college of Jefuits is not wholly deftitute of elegance, being 

 well built, and of a tolerable architecture. 



The political government of this city confifts of a corregidor, nominated by the King, 

 and who is at the head of the ordinary alcaldes and the regidores. During the vacancy 

 of this poft, the duty is performed by the prefident of Chili, who is governor, and 

 captain-general of the whole kingdom, and prefident of the audience of Santiago, on 

 which, as its capital. Conception is dependent. The court of audience was originally 

 eftabhfhed in the latter, and continued there from the year 1567 to 1574; but the 

 danger and difturbances, occafioned by the frequent revolts of the Indians, caufed it 

 for a while to be fupprelTed, and afterwards to be removed to the city of Santiaga 

 The prefident is, however, obliged to refide fix months of the year at Conception, that 

 he may attend carefully to the military concerns of the frontiers, fee that the forts be 

 in a good condition, and well provided with every thing, in order to keep the Indians 

 of Arauco in awe, and that the military forces are in good order, and well difciplined, 

 and always in readinefs to repel any attempts of the Indians, provided they Ihould ever 

 abandon their dread of the Spanifh troops. During the other fix months, when the 

 governor refides at Santiago, he afts in a very different character ; hearing complaints, 

 redreffmg grievances, and adminiftering juflice, that this tribunal may receive the 

 greater dignity from his prefence. Here is alfo a chamber of finances, at the head of 

 which is an accountant and treafurer. Befides which. Conception has likewife all die 

 other courts and offices ufual in the cities of South America. 



As all the inhabitants of the towns, villages, and country, within the jurifdiftion of 

 Conception, form different bodies of militia, fome of which are in pay, and all muft 

 be ready on any fudden alarm, there is, befides the corregidor, a Maeflra de Campo, 



4 Q 2 who 



