313 



in eacli of whicli tlje Jesuits liad a missionary clnircli. The 

 two ])rinci|)Hl )ii;ires are Castro and Chacao. 



Castro, tlic <a[>;uil ot the \vi:ole Achipelago, is situated in 

 the eastern j>art ot" the grtat, island, upon an arm or gulph of 

 the sc:i, ia *42. .'58. degrees of S. latitude, and 303. 15. of lon- 

 gitude. Th" houses, like those in all the other islands, arc 

 built of wooti. The inhabitants, who are not + numerous, 

 usually live upon their own possessions. Besides the parish 

 church and the college, formerly belonging to the Jesuits, 

 tlicre is a convent of Franciscans, and another of Mcrcedarii^ 

 n which two or three monks reside. The port of Chacao lies 

 nearly in the middle of the northern coast of the same island^ 

 upon the principal channel, which runs between that shore and 

 the continent, in 42 degrees of latitude, and 307. 3/. of lon- 

 gitude. This port has good anchorage, and is well defended 

 from the winds, but the entrance is very difficult, owing in 

 some measure to the currents and eddies that prevail in the 

 channel, but principally to a rock that rises in the narrowest 

 part of it, and is not visible except at ebb. The whole com- 

 merce of the Archipelago is carried on from this port, in four 

 or five ships that come here nnnually from Peru, or from the 

 ports on the rontineut of Chili. This traffic is entirely con- 

 <lucted by bartering the productions of the country for tliose 

 articles that are brought, money being very scarce in these 

 islands. Upon the arrival of the ships, the Cabildo, or ma- 

 gistrate of Ca-tio, has the privilege of sending two deputies 

 to tax the goods brought in them, and make an estimate of 

 their prices, which is to regulate the sale. This trade, by flic 

 royal grant, is not subjected to tl.'c duties th:U are paid in th 

 other ports. 



.'.5. .50. S. lor.f^iliiil.- .'^O-?, accordins; io Agiioro';. E. E. 



+ Tho roii-tant r<--idri;is arc not morr than ono hiindnd and tiffy. An 

 eartli.jiiakc ruinci! t!i<- 1 ily soon afler its foundation, and tht-rr Avorc fe-.' 

 ind'.icciuents to rct^ii'.d if. F.. C j 



