281 



water, which greatly facilitates its progress, has been 

 already commenced. In several of the ports barks 

 are employed in the transportation of merchan- 

 dise, which was before carried by land upon mules, 

 with great trouble and expense to the merchant. 

 This beneficial innovation will probably be followed 

 by others of still greater importance. Several large 

 ships have also been built in the harbour of Concep- 

 tion and the mouth of the river Maiile* The ex- 



In the trade with Spain, the fruits received from Chili go but 

 a little way in payment of more than a million of dollars, which 

 are received from thence annually in European goods, either di- 

 rectly or by the way of Buenos- Ayres, and sometimes from Lima. 

 Gold, silver and copper are the articles which form the whole of 

 this commerce, since the hides and vicugna wool are in such small 

 quantities as to render them of little importance. 



The gold which is coined in the capital, is regulated at five 

 thousand two hundred marks annually, whence, by comparing the 

 amount shipped with that coined, as no overplus appears, it is 

 concluded that there is no clandestine extraction, notwithstanding 

 in bullion and in works of use or orniment a very considerable 

 quantity is expended. 



The silver obtained from the mines is calculated at thirty thou- 

 Siind marks. Of this amount twenty five thousand is coined 

 yeai-ly, and the residue employed in the manufacture of tablé 

 plate, and for various other purposes. The diiference in the 

 quantity shipped from that coined arises from the receipts from 

 Lima. The remittances of gold and silver to Spain are usually 

 made from Buenos-Ayres ; the first, being less bulky, is carried 

 by the monthly packets in sums of two or three thousand ounces ; 

 as to the second, it is sent in two convoy ships in the summei', by 

 which conveyances gold is also remitted. In calculating the gold 

 from the remittances, it amounts to six-hundred and fifty-six thou- 

 sand dollars, and the silver to two-hundi*ed and forty-four thou- 

 sand. The copper which is extracted from the mines is estimated 

 from eight to ten thousand quintals. From these data it will not 

 be difficult to form a general estimate of all that Chili produces 

 annually. 



Vol. II. N u 



