307 



tine S(*!v,in:irv. The inliabi! arils, in consequence of so rnnny 

 n)i^t^l^!!ll(^,, sc'.irceiy umoiiut ut present to tliirtoeii tlionsaiul. 

 Tiic tiMiipcratiire of the air is ;it all seasons very niiki ; tlie soil 

 i'oi!;i(', aiul tlso sea-coast aboiuuls with every species of ti->h of 

 thr !not (lelici(,us kiiids^, both scaled and testaceous. The 

 Inuhonr, or bay, is sj)acioi!s, extcndint; full tliree lea^^ucs and 

 u half from noith to soulb, aird as many from east to west, 

 'llie Quiriqniiia, a beai:iifid and fertile island, siti'ated at ils 

 iiioulli, forms two entrances to if, tlie eastern of vihich, called 

 Bor.ca Grande, is two Kiiles wide, and tlie western, called 

 Bocca Chica, is but a little nifsre than a mile. Tlie harbour 

 ailords good and s~afe anchorage for vessels of any bunleu, 

 especially iu a j)ort called Talcagnano, where sliips at present 

 lie, as the new city is not far distant. 



l-3lh. IIUILQUILOIU. 



The ijroviiice of Ilidlqui'eniu, commonly called Estanziadei 

 Rei, the royal jjo^sesrion, is situated between Cliilian, the 

 Andes, the river Bio bio and Pucacliay, and is ii length and 

 breadth the same as the precediuir. lis ri\ers are the Itata, 

 Claro, Laxa, and Dnqueco. This district is rich in g;old dust, 

 and ])roducei an excellent nuisc;uh'l wine. The inhabitants 

 are valiant and warlike, having been accustomed to fight with 

 their formidable neighbours the Araucanians. The capital is 

 called F.stanzia del Jlei, or St. Leui'; di Gonzaga, and was 

 built not many yeais since, near the Bio bio, in 3G deg. 43 nii- 

 nules of hui'udc, and 304. 48. of lf)ngitude. Besides iJie 

 palish church there is au ancient colleoe of the Jesuits. To 

 protect this province from the incursions of Itie Araucanians, 

 the Spaniards liave erected, upon the shore of the Biu-bio^ 

 wi'.liin lluir territory, the forts ot" J umbel, Tncapen, St, Bar- 

 l>ara, and Piivon. Tiieir barrier, however, is situated on the 

 souTJicrn baiiU of that rivi-r, And consists of the f(nts of Aran- 

 <.'0, Colcura, St. Pedro, St. Joanna, Naiciuicnto, aud Angeles, 



