120 



rimu , the first rinm^ and Majj inan-rimii^ or the 

 second rimii. 



Sect. IV. Medicinal Plants. K knowledge 

 of the virtues of plants and lierbs^ acquired by 

 long- experience, forms almost the whole of the 

 medical science of the Chilians^ particulady of 

 those aborigines v/ho have never embraced chris- 

 tianitj. The macliis and ampives, names given 

 to their physicians, are only skillful herborists, 

 "who, in reality, often perform extraordinary 

 cures. The virtues of many plants are known 

 only to them, as, either from hatred to the Spa- 

 niards, or to enhance their own consequence, 

 they studiously conceal their properties: not- 

 withstanding which, near twt) hundred valuable 

 medicinal herbs have been discovered, besides 

 a great number of shrubs and trees, which at 

 presciit form an important branch of foreign 

 commerce, Ihe most celebrated of which are the 

 rachanlaliucn, the 'cirarira, the rctamilla, the 

 paiico, and the quinchumali. 



The cachanlaJiuen (gentian cachanlahuen) 

 called by ]M. Bomare and some other authors 

 chancdag'ue and chanchalagiia, is not a native of 

 Panauja, as is stated in tie Memoirs of the 

 Academy of Sciences for 1707; nor does it grow, 

 as M. Bomare has mentioned, in Guayaquil, but 

 only in Chili, from whence it has been trans- 



