11 



II 



The beauty of its sky, the constant mildness of its 

 chmate, and its abundant fertility, render it, as a 

 place of residence, extremely agreeable; and with 

 respect to its natural productions, it may be said^ 

 without exaggeration, not to be inferior to any por- 

 tion of the globe. The seasons succeed each other 

 regularly, and are sufficiently marked, although the 

 transition from cold to heat is very moderate. The 

 spring in Chili commences, as in all the countries 

 of the southern hemisphere, the 22d September, the 

 summer in December, the autumn in March, and 

 the winter in June,^ 



* That part of Chili which may properly be deemed a Spanish 

 province, is a narrow district, extending along the coast from the 

 desert of Atacamas to the island of Chiloé, above 900 miles. Its 

 climate is the most delicious of the New World, and is hardly 

 equalled by that of any region on the face of the earth. Though 

 bordering on the torrid zone, it never feels the extremity of heat, 

 being screened on the east by the Andes, and refreshed from the 

 west by cooling sea-breezes. The temperature of the air is so mild 

 and equable, that the Spaniards give it the preference to that of 

 the southern provinces in their native country. The fertility of 

 the soil corresponds with the benignity of the climate, and is won- 

 derfully accommodated to European productions. The most va- 

 luable of these, corn, wine and oil, abound in Chili, as if they had 

 been native to the country. All the fruits imported from Europe 

 attain to full maturity there. The animals of our hemisphere net 

 only multiply, but improve in this delightful region. The horned 

 cattle are of larger size than those of Spain. Its breed of horses 

 surpasses, both in beauty and in spirit, the famous Andalusian race, 

 from which they sprang. Nor has nature exhausted her bounty on 

 the surface of the earth ; she has stored its bowels with riches. 

 Valuable mines of gold, of silver, of copper, and of lead, have 

 been discovered in various parts of it. A country distinguished by 

 so many blessings, we may be apt to conclude, would early become 

 a favourite station of the Spaniards, and must have been cultivated 

 with peculiar predilection and care. Instead of this, a great part 



