XI 



competent idea of it. Father Louis Feuille, a 

 French Minim friar, l.as given a scientific de- 

 scription of the phints that he found upon the 

 coast, to wiiicli he has added an account of se- 

 veral animals that he noticed th.ere. This is a 

 work of great merit ; the descriptions are pre- 

 cise, and perfectly correct; but as it was pub- 

 lished bj the order and at the expense of the 

 king, the copies of it have become very scarce^ 

 and are in the possession of but few. 



A number of Spanish authors have treated of 

 this country. The last century produced several, 

 not to mention those of the present ; but few of 

 their writings, however, have been published, 

 for reasons whiih I shall hereafter assign. Of 

 the latter, the first in point of merit are those of 

 Don Pedro de Figueroa, and the Abbes Mi- 

 chael de Olivarez and Philip /idaurre. The 

 t^^^ former treat of the political histoiy of the 

 country, from the arrival of the Spaniards to the 

 present time. Tiiat of the Abbe Olivarez merits 

 particular attention, from the great number of 

 interesting facts relative to the long wars be- 

 tween the Spaniards and Araucanians, which he 

 has collected witli no less judgment than indus- 

 try. The work of the Abbe Vidaurre is prin- 

 cipally employed upon the natural productions 

 and customs of Chili, and displays much intelli- 

 irencc and acuteness of research. 



Besides the histories, or, more properly speak- 

 b 4 



