303 



built in the year 1742. It is situated among liills on tlie river 

 Hioclaro, in latitude 34. 4/. and 304. 45. of longitude. Its 

 population is very eonsiderable, owing, not only to the rich 

 mines of gold that are found in its mountains, hut to tlie plen- 

 tifuiness of jnovisions, which are cheaj)er tlian in any other 

 part of Chili, This latter circumstance has induced several 

 tioble families from St. Jago and Conception, whose finances 

 had become diininished, to retire thither ; an emigration whicli 

 has been denominated, in derision, the bankrupt colony. It 

 contains a parish, with convents of Monks of the Franciscan, 

 Dominican, Angustin, and Merccdaiii orders, and a college 

 that belonged to the Jesuits, In this province are also the 

 towns of Curico, Cauquenes, St. Saverio di Bella Isla, St, An- 

 tonio delta Florida, I.ora, and three or four other Indian vil- 

 laijes. Curico, or St. Joseph of Bueno Vista, was built in the 

 vear 1742, and is situated in a pleasant plain at the fool of a 

 beautiful hill, in 34. 14. degrees of latitude, and 305 degree* 

 of longitude. It contains a parish church, a convent of Mer- 

 cedarii, and another of strict Franciscans, Hhich is very large. 

 Cauquenes was built tlie same year, and lies in ST). 40. degrees 

 of latitude, and in 304. 30. of longitude, between the two 

 small rivers Tutuberi and Cauquenes. Besides the parish 

 church, it has a conveut of Franciscans. St. Saverio di Bella 

 Isla, and St. Antonio della Florida, were fouuded in the year 

 1765 ; the first is in 35. 4.. degrees of latitude, and 304. 5,9. of 

 longitude, and the second in '55. 20. of latitude, and 304. 41 . 

 of longitude. Laro, situate near the disembogueu)ent of the 

 river Mataquito, is a numerous settlement of Promauciau In- 

 dians, and is governed by a Cacique or Ulmen. 



10th. ITATA. 



The province of Itata lies upon the sea-coast, between 

 Mafde and Puchacay, and is bounded on the east by Chilian. 

 From east to west it is twenty leagues in length, and from 

 north to south eleven, and is intersected by the river Itata. 



