Guano and Salitek. 



435 



by coolies, who are imported at the rate of 12,000 a year, 

 ostensibly as colonists, bnt really condemned to the worst 

 form of slavery. Many of the poor fellows, rather than 

 dig the foul guano, throw themselves from the cliffs into 

 the sea. A Celestial sells for $400 ; the time of servitude 

 has lately been reduced from eight to six years. 



Salttee, or Nitrate of Soda — This formidable compet- 

 itor with guano is found in the province of Tarapaca, es- 

 pecially on the Pampa del Tamarugal, where it occupies 

 fifty square leagues, and is reckoned at 63,000,000 tons. 

 It seems to be constantly forming. The average yield is 



