157 



The miiscadel wine is^ acording to Ulloa, of 

 as good a quality as the best of Spain.* These 

 wines are in general very strong, and great quan- 

 tities are used for distilling brandy. The vintage 

 tiikes place in the months of April and May. 

 About twenty years since some vines of a black 

 muscadel grape, of an excellent quality, were 

 discovered in the valleys of the Andes, aiicl from 

 thence transplanted into the other provinces. As 

 these vallevs had never been inhabited, and until 

 that time no such grape had been known in any 

 other part of the country, it is difficult to deter- 

 mine whether it is a native of Chili or brought, 

 from Europe. It has besides some peculiarities 

 that distinguish it, as the leaves being more in- 

 dented, and the clusters perfectly conical, while 

 the grapes grow so close to each oiher as to render 

 it impossible to detach one without crushing 

 several. 



All the European fruit trees yield abundantly, 

 and their fruit is as fine in Chili as in their native 

 country, f The greater part are also remarkable 



* Chili has in no less abundiuicc ^[riipes of various hinds, 

 and aniouij them those whicii produce a wine more iiighlv 

 vahied in Peru than any other; it is mostly red, and a mus- 

 cadel is also made, which in its smell and the deliciousness of 

 its taste surpasses any kind known in Spai;!. Ulloa s Voyage. 



t The plain of Quillcta is \e\y p!ea'a;;t. V.'o were there at 

 the time of the cairiivai, which occur; in tliat couuMv in the 

 boijinuing of autumn, and were much surpri-ed to -^ep a treat 



