and they are situaied under nearly similar pa* 

 rallels of latitude. They likewise resemble each 

 other in the circumstance of their heiua: of much 

 greater extent in length tlian in breadth^, and 

 that they are both divided by a chain of monii- 

 tains. The Cordilleras or the Andes are to Chili, 

 what the Appennines are to Italy^ the source of 

 almost all the livers that water tlie country, and 

 diffuse over it fertility and abundance. This 

 chain of mountains has as sensible an influence 

 on the salubrity of the air of Chili, as the Apen- 

 nines have upon that of Italy ; and so firmly 

 are the iniiabitants convinced of this fact, that, 

 whenever they attempt to account for any change 

 in the state of the ainiosphere, they attribute it 

 to the eiiect of these mountains, which they con- 

 sider as powerful and infallible agents. 



A country so remarkable, both for its natural 

 productions, and its political state, certainly 

 merits to be well known ; yet the accounts that 

 we have of it arc merely superficial, and little is 

 to be found, respecting its natural productions, 

 in writers v.pon natural history. Of the lan- 

 guage and the cuStoms of the inhabitants we 

 are equally ignorant, and scarcely any thing is 

 known of the ejicrtions which the Chilians have 

 made, even in our dav5, to defend their liberties. 



A few well-informed travellers, who have 

 been in the coimtry, liave published some 

 valuable accounts, but too conscise to furnish a 



