Chiloe. it is little less than 300 miles. In calcu- 

 lating from these various extents, the surface of 

 Chili may be estimated at 378,000 square miles. 



Sect. I. Limits. Chili is bounded upon the 

 TTest by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Peru^ 

 on the east by Tucuman, Cujo, and Patagoniaj 

 and oji the south by the land of Magellan. Jt 

 is separated from all these countries by the Cor- 

 dilleras, which form an insurmountable barrier 

 on the land side, while the sea renders it secure 

 upon that quarter. The few roads which lead 

 to Chili from the neighbouring provinces arc 

 impassable, except in summer, and arc so narrow 

 and dangerous that a man on horseback can w ith 

 difficulty pass them.* 



* There are abotit cii^l!t or nine roads nliicli cross the 

 Cordilleras of Chili, ot" which that loadiug from the province 

 of Aconcagua to Cujo is the most travelled. This road, 

 which carmot be passed in less than ei^ht days, is bordered oh 

 one sid.' I<v the deep beds nhieh the Chile and the INIendo^a, 

 U\o to!^^ilna!)le rivers, have worn there; on the other side, 

 bv Aery loftv and per|'ei;dicular mountains. It is so narrow 

 -and inraminodious, that, in many places, Iravellers are obliged 

 to quit their nudes, the only animal that can be employed, 

 and to proceed on foot ; nor does ihert a year pass when 

 vome loaded mules are not prcci|)it;iled iVom these roads into 

 the u\ers. These precipices, iiowever, do not follow the 

 whole course of the road; for occasionally it passes over very 

 at^reeabli and ple^s<it plains, where travellers halt to refiesii 

 themselves. In these places the Incas, when they contpiered 

 Cusco and the northern provJi;ces of Chili, caused some btonc 



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