TOPOGRAPHY OF CHILI. 



463 



perpetuate the memory of the two chief explorers of this region. But here the 

 most promising settlement is MauUin, at the mouth of the Maullin River, which has 

 the advantage of standing on a navigable estuary near the Chacao Channel flowing 

 between the continent and the island of Chiloe. The eastern entrance of this 

 passage is commanded by Fort Calhuco, and Puerto 3Iontt occupies an admirable 

 position near the extremity of the lacustrine fiord formed by Reloncavi Bay and 

 at the southern termination of the great central plain of Chili. Although the 



Fig. 176.— Chacao Channel. 

 Scale 1 : 400,000. 



75" 55 



WestoP Greenwicln 



75-30' 



to5 

 Fa homs. 



Depths. 



5 Fathoms 

 and upwards. 



Chilian and German settlers are still far from numerous, Puerto Montt, formerly 

 MelipuUi, has made steady progress since its foundation in 1853. 



Chiloe Island may be regarded as an integral part of South Chili so far as 

 regards its climate, soil, products and inhabitants. The towns also present the 

 same general aspect. Cadro, founded in 1566 on a strip of land on the east side, 

 has remained an obscure village, its dangerous island- and reef-studded waters 

 being avoided by shipping. 



Chacao, on the channel of like name over against the mainland, is also of 

 difficult access, so that most of the traffic has been deflected farther west to the 



