CLLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 67* 



motion is fo eafy, that the rider is not the leaft fatigued. In beauty and gracefulnefe 

 they are not inferior to the famous Andelulian horfes, and at the fame time full of fpi- 

 rit. Accordingly they are every where fo highly valued, that a more acceptable prefent 

 cannot be made to a perfon of the greateft diftin£tion, than one of thefe beads. Many 

 purchafe them for parade, and befides their being common all over the kingdom, they 

 have been fent even to Quito. The great demand for them, and confequently their 

 high price, has induced the inhabitants of feveral countries to attempt the breeding of 

 them ; but none are equal to thofe of Chili. 



The commerce at Conception might be conliderably increafed, were the country, 

 which is far from being the cafe, inhabited in any proportion to its fertility and extent ; 

 but for want of a fufficient number of hands, their commerce is at a very low ebb, con- 

 fifting almoft entirely in provifions, wine, &c. and this is fo fmall, that it is chiefly 

 carried on by only a fmgle Ihip coming once a-year to Callao to load with them, 

 together with a few others trading to Chiloe and Baldivia, and in their return touch 

 here. Their exports are tallow, grafla, cordovan, bend leather, excellent butter, 

 wines, and dried fruits. The goods brought hither in exchange are the feveral forts 

 of woollen (luffs from Quito, and others from Europe, iron, and mercury. Very few 

 European goods are however imported ; for the people here not being remarkable for 

 their riches, ufe only home-made fluffs and bays, which, though extremely good, are 

 in no great quantity. The commerce carried on between the inhabitants of Chili, and 

 the Arauco Indians, fhall be mentioned in its proper place. 



CHAP. VI. — Defcription of Conception Bay, its Roads or Harbours, Fijh, ^c, and 

 thejingular Mines of Shells in its Neighbourhood, 



THE bay of Conception, befides its excellent bottom, is of fuch an extent, as not 

 to be equalled by any on the whole coafl. For from Tierra-Firma, north and fouth, 

 its length is nearly three leagues and a half, and its breadth from eall to weft, almofl 

 three leagues, being the diftance betwixt the harbour of Talcaguano, and the Cirillo 

 Verde, or little green mountain, fituated near the city ; from whence its breadth is 

 contraded by the ifland of Quiriquina, which, lying in the mouth of it, forms two 

 entrances, of which that on the eaft fide is the fafeft, being two miles in breadth, and 

 accordingly frequented by moft fhips. The^ weft entrance is between the ifland and 

 Talcaguano point, and is near half a league in breadth. In the principal entrance of 

 this bay is thirty fathom water, which depth afterwards decreafes to eleven and ten, 

 till within about a mile of the fhore, oppofite to the entrance. The weftern, though 

 the many rocks and breakers in it make it appear very dangerous, has a channel with 

 water fufficient for the largeft fhip, the depth being at firft thirty fathom, and never 

 lefsthan eleven ; it is fituated in the middle of the entrance, that is, at an equal diftance 

 between the rocks which projed about a quarter of a league from Talcaguano point 

 and Quiriquina. 



Within the bay are three roads or harbours, where fhips anchor ; for though the 

 bottom be every where clear, it is only in one of thefe three places fhips can ride in 

 fafety, being no where elfe fheltered from the wind. The firft, called Puerto Tome, 

 lies eaft and weft with the north point of Quiriquina, contiguous to the'coaft of Tierra 

 Firma. The anchoring place is about half a league diftant from the land, in about 

 twelve fathom water. But this road is only ufed when fhips come in during the night, 



VOL. XIV, 4 R *^ 



