SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES, 



ILLUSTRATIVE OF 



THE HISTORY OF CHILI, 



EXTRACTED FROM AN ANONYMOUS WORK, ENTITLED, A 

 COMPENDIUM OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL, NATURAL, 

 AND CIVIL HISTORY OF CHILI, PRINTED 

 IN BOLOGNA, 1776. 



THE Spaniards have divided that part of Chili belonging to 

 them, between the Andes and sea, into fourteen provinces, to 

 which may be added the Archipelago of Chiloe, the islands of 

 Juan Fernandez, and the province of Cujo. Each of these, ex- 

 cepting Valdivia and the islands of Juan Fernandez, is the re- 

 sidence of a prefect called the Corregidor, who presides over the 

 civil and military officers of his department, and on whom the 

 Cabildo, or magistrate, is dependant. These provinces, commen- 

 mencing on the side of Peru, are : 



1st. COPIAPO. 



THIS province is bounded on the North by the desarts of Peru, 

 on the East by the Andes, on the South by Coquimbo, and on the 

 West by the Pacifick Ocean. It is in length from North to South 

 about one hundred leagues, and in breadth from East to West 

 forty-four. It is watered by the rivers Salado, Copiapo, from 

 whence it derives its name, Castagno, Totoral, Quebradaponda, 

 GuasQp and Chollai. It abounds with gold, lapis lazuli, sulphur, 

 and fossile salt, which is found in almost all the mountains that 

 terminate it to the East. Its capital, of the same name, is situated 

 upon the river Copiapo, in 26. deg. 50. min. S. latitude, and 305. 5. 

 W. longitude. It contains a parish, a convent of Mercedarii, and 

 a college which formerly belonged to the Jesuits. On the river 

 Guaseo are situated the towns of Santa Rosa and Guascoalto, both, 

 in 29 deg. of latitude, the first at four leagues distance from the 

 sea, and the second in the neighbourhood of the Andes. This 

 proviiice has two ports, one at the mouth of the river Copiapo, and 

 the other at that of the Guaseo, which are known by the names of 

 those rivers, « 



