22 



trhere the heat is more perceptible than elsewhere, 

 Reaumur's thermometer scarcely ever exceeds 25 

 degrees. The night?^ throughout the country, 

 are ge .erally of a very agreeable temperature. 

 TNot'>i.hstauding the moderate heat of Chili, all 

 the fruits of warm countries, and even those of 

 the tropics arrive to great perfection there,* 



Coutiguous to Peru is situated the province of Chili, 

 which extends in a long, narrow strip upon the coast of the 

 South Sea. The air is remarkably clear and serene, and for 

 three quarters of the year thiscoimtry enjoysan ahnost constant 

 temperature, as it rains very little during that period. The 

 want of rain is amply compensated by the copious dews and 

 the many streams which, desceudii;g from the Andes, fertilize 

 the plains, and render them productive of every kind of grain, 

 as well as wine, oil, and all those fruits which its inhabitants, 

 who are much reduced in their n\unbers, and not remarkable 

 for their industry, think proper to cultivate. Were the go- 

 vernment to show itself a little more favourable to the encou- 

 ragement of its industry and the increase of its population, 

 DO country in the world could rival it; since, at t!)c same 

 time, it enjoys a clear sky and a degree of heut which, tluiUgh 

 temperate, perfectly matures tiiose tiopical Iruits thai do not 

 grow sponlanecH'.sly excei)t in the torrid zone. The plains of 

 this country furnish in abundance whatever is jiecessary or 

 conducible to the comfort of life ; while the mouiitains contain 

 the richest treasures, in mines of gold, silver, copper, lead, 

 iron, and quicksilver. Those that are principally wrought are 

 the gold mines, and there is. scarcely in the whole coiunry a 

 stream whose sands do not contain this precious metal in 

 greater or less abundance. But the indolence of the inha- 

 bitants prevents many of the mines from being wrought, and, 

 what is a stiil greater evil, the soil from being cultivated in 



