276 CULTIVATION—IMPROVEMENT. 1829, 
Luma, three or four yards in length, fastened above and below 
to cross-rails, by ligatures of creeping plants, of which there is 
an abundance in the woods close to the town: the general name 
for them is Buque. 
The land in the vicinity of San Carlos, which is a peninsula, 
is cleared of timber, and partially cultivated. In the valley, 
through which the rivulet runs into the sea near the mole, 
there are a few attempts at gardens; but the extent to which 
the inhabitants cultivate, seems to be confined to a rood of 
potatoes and wheat, which, with a litter of pigs, and an inex- 
haustible store of shell-fish on the coast, are the principal sup- 
port of their families. It is not surprising, when so little personal 
trouble is necessary to provide subsistence, that the Chilotes (2) 
should not be an industrious race. Byron, in his narrative of 
the loss of the Wager, has given a most excellent and correct 
account of the inhabitants of this island; which, excepting for 
those about San Carlos and Castro, may well serve at the pre- 
sent time. In the town, trade, a free communication with other 
parts of South America, and the residence of several Europeans, 
have introduced approaches towards refinement; and besides the 
articles of luxury that occasionally make their appearance, 
such as chairs and tables, crockery-ware, and similar domestic 
comforts; shoes and stockings are now, on feast days, in com- 
mon use among the females; although in many instances one 
can easily observe, that the wearer is actuated by vanity, rather 
than by any comfort or pleasure she derives, from a confine- 
ment to which her feet have not been accustomed.* This is one 
of the steps towards civilization, which the Chilote peasantry 
are making, and among the higher classes ‘ el ultimo modo’ 
(the latest fashion), is not less the theme of conversation than 
it is in other parts of the Republic. 
In style of dress, among the upper ranks, the men are more 
advanced than the women, many having been in other countries. 
(w) Native of Chilée.—R. F. 
* Agiieros says, “both men and women go generally with the foot 
and leg uncovered ; with the exception of the principal families ; but even 
those do not all wear shoes.” —(Agiieros, p. 108.) 
