xu 



ing% the accounts that have been written of this 

 country, there are four poems that have for their 

 subject the Araucanian wars ; also an anonymous 

 abridgement in Italian of the Geographical and 

 Natural History of Chili, published in 1776, 

 which, in some respects, particularly with re- 

 g-ard to geography and natural history, fur- 

 nishes a more complete account of Chili 

 than we have had. But as that compen- 

 dium is much too concise, I presume I shall 

 render an important service to those who feel 

 an interest in whqjt respects America, by pre- 

 senting them with this essay, in which I have 

 dwelt more fully and precisely upon the natural 

 productions of Chili, as well as upon the most 

 conspicuous events that have occurred in that 

 country. 



At an early period of life, I began to turn my 

 attention both to the natural and political history 

 of Chili, with the view of publishing, at some 

 future time, the result of my inquiries. Some 

 untoward circumstances, however, interrupted 

 my progress, and I had even relinquished the 

 hope of having it in my power to carry my plan 

 into etrect, when a fortunate accident put me 

 into possession of the requisite materials, and 

 enabled me to offer the pre ent work to the pub- 

 lic ; to wliich, in a short time, I proposed adding 

 another essay or compendium of the civil and 

 political history of the Same country. 



