CONQUEST BV THE SPANIARDS. 13; 



that a strict regulation for the killing of these birds, only at 

 fixed times, will be soon enforced by all the American 

 Republics, or else, one day, we may have to deplore the total 

 extermination of these splendid birds, one of the most con- 

 spicuous and w^onderful sights, peculiar to the tropical countries 

 of America. 



• 



Now-a-days that the mania of collecting is spread among 

 all classes of society, and that everyone possess, either a 

 gallery of pictures, aquarels, drawings, or a fine library, an 

 album of postage stamps, a collection of embroideries, laces, 

 fans, shoes, sticks, pipes, ethnological curios, arms, prints, 

 handbills, watches, bronzes, buttons, and such like, a collection 

 of humming-birds should be the one selected by ladies. It is 

 as beautiful and much more varied than a collection of 

 precious stones, and costs much less. Besides, it can be kept 

 in one cabinet, which can be made to fit with the furniture of 

 the most splendid palace, as that of the most modest home. 

 Nothing can surpass in beauty and variety a collection of 

 humming-birds. Many species of these charming birds can 

 be bought at a nominal price, others are very scarce, and can 

 scarcely be had in a life's time. Hence a constant and agree- 

 able occupation for many years, and quite the thing for all 

 those who have money, taste, and leisure. 



During our stay in Valparaiso we made many interesting 

 and pleasant excursions in the country, and we saw many 

 rare animals and plants. 



As I shall have no opportunity to speak again of this 

 country, I shall give now a short description of Chili, its in- 

 habitants, their customs, the rare animals found in Chili, and 

 other facts which I consider of interest. 



Chili was discovered in 1536 by Diego Almagro. Alma- 

 gro was of Spanish nationality, and inhabited Panama for 

 some years. He first entered Chili by the valley COPAYAPA, 

 through the Andes, where he lost many of his followers and 

 horses from hardships and cold. 



Copayapa bears that name from the turquoises, which a 

 mountain there produces in great abundance. This valley is 

 said to be one of the most fruitful of all Chili. It produces 

 the best maize {Indian corn), each ear being over one foot 

 and the stalk five feet long ; each grain sown yields at least 

 three hundred in harvest. 



Through the midst of CoPAYAPA runs a river of the same 

 denomination, and twenty leagues in length from the Andes, 

 and at its mouth has a convenient harbour. 



