I 



25B 



mouth of Uie river îtata, in 36. 2. degrees of latitude, and 305.41. 

 of longitude, and was founded in the year 1743. 



11th. CHILLAN. 



CHILLAN is bounded on the north by Maule, on the east by the 

 Andes, on the south by Huilquilemu, and on the west by the pro- 

 vince of Itata. It is of the same extent as the preceding, and is 

 watered by the rivers Nuble, Cato, Chillan, Diguillin, and Danni- 

 calquin. This whole district is a plain, and very favourable to the 

 raising of sheep, which are highly esteemed for their wool through- 

 out the kingdom. Corn and fruits are also produced there in great 

 quantities. The capital is called Si. Bartholomew of Chilian. It 

 was founded in the year 1580, and is situated on the river Chilian, 

 in 36 degrees of latitude, and 305. 2. of longitude. It has been 

 destroyed several times by the Araucanians, and in the year 1751 

 was overthrown by an earthquake. In consequence of this acci- 

 dent, the inhabitants transferred it the succeeding year to a more 

 commodiaus site and one less exposed to the inundations of the 

 river. This city is well peopled, notv/ithstanding which it con- 

 tains but one parish church, with convents of the Franciscan, Do- 

 minican and Mercedarii orders, and a college which belonged t« 

 the Jesuits. 



12th. PUCHACAY. 



PUCHACAY is bounded on the nort^ by the province of Itata, 

 on the east by Huilquilemu, on the south by the river Bio-bio, and 

 on the west by the sea. From north to south it is twelve leagues 

 in extent, and twenty from east to west. It is irrigated by the 

 river Andalien and several other small streams. It produces gold 

 dust in abundance, and also great quantities of straw-berries both 

 wild and cultivated, which are the largest in Chili. Gualqui, or 

 St. John the Ba/itist, founded in the year 1754, upon the northern 

 shore of the river Bio-bio, in 36. 44. degrees of latitude, and 304. 

 48. of longitude, is properly the capital, and the residence of the 

 Prefect or Corregidor. This province comprehends the Prefec- 

 turate of Conception, which extends a little beyond the city of that 

 name. 



Conception, called in the language of the country Poncoy was 

 founded, by Pedro di Valdivia, in a dell, or valley, formed on the 

 sea coast by some beautiful hills, in latitude 36. 42. and longitude 



\ 



