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(w) 

 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 vvearer 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. 



(u) Native of Chiloe.— R. F. 



* Ag'Ueros says, " both men and women g-o 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.) 



