1829. 



ISLANDS OF CHTLOE. 



271 



It is the northernmost of that vast archipelago, which borders 

 the coast from latitude 42° south to Cape Horn. 



The province of Childe, one of the eight divisions of the 

 Chilian Republic, includes several islands, and extends on 

 the main-land, as far as the south bank of the River Maullin;* 

 which takes in the districts of Carelmapu and Calbuco. Its 

 southern extent is not defined ; but as the existence of Chilian 

 authority is not known, to the southward of the Chonos Archi- 

 pelago, certainly not farther south than the land of Tres 

 Montes, the parallel of 47° may be considered its southern 

 limit. The country thence, to the Strait of Magalhaens, is 

 known by the appellation of Western Patagonia, 



Besides the Isla Grande, as Childe is called, the following 

 islands are inhabited : — Achao, or Quinchao, Lemuy, Quehuy, 

 Chelin, Linlin, Llignua, Quenac, Meulin, Caguach or Cahua- 

 che, Alao, Apiao, Chaulinec, all in front of Castro; the Chau- 

 gues Islands, opposite to Tenoun ; Calbuco, Llaichua, Quenu, 

 Tabor, Abtao, Chiduapi (on which is the fort) ; Huar in the 

 neighbourhood, and district of Calbuco ; and, to the South, 

 Tanqui, to which may be added Caylin, which is also called 

 El fin de la Cristiandad.i* 



Of the above, next to the Isla Grande, the principal are 

 Quinchao and Lemuy, both of which are very populous, and 



• AgUeros describes its boundary thus : — It is situated between the 

 latitudes 41° 30' and 44° ; from Point Capitanes to Quilan. On the north 

 it is bounded by the territories of the Indian tribes Juncos and Rancos, 

 which extend to Valdivia ; on the N.E. by those of the ancient but 

 destroyed city Osorno ; on the south by the archipelago of Guaitecas 

 and Guaianeco, and others which extend to the Strait of Magalhaens ; 

 on the east by the Cordillera ; and on the west by the sea. (AgUeros, 

 p. 61.) 



t When the Yntendente, or governor of the province, visited Castro 

 for the purpose of taking a census of the population, a family of Indians 

 waited upon him to render an account of their property ; who, upon being- 

 asked whence they came, replied, " Del fin de la Cristiandad," The name 

 being new to the Yntendente, it was explained to him that they belonged 

 to Caylin, which was more generally known by the above name, because 

 there existed no Christian population beyond, or to the southward of, 

 that island. 



