54 



CHTLI. 



twelve, while the current expences of the mine 

 were every day involving him deeper and deeper ; 

 and, finally, reducing him to mere dependence on 

 the will of the capitalist. 



This and similar transactions, where the habi- 

 litador's price is about eight dollars, refer to a 

 recent period only ; that is, since the price of 

 copper has risen, in consequence of the increased 

 commercial intercourse, which, in the first in- 

 stance, had been fotced upon South America, in 

 spite of all the Spanish regulations to the con- 

 trary ; and was afterwards, to a certain extent, 

 sanctioned by the Government. Antecedent to 

 that period, when the Spanish authority was ab- 

 solute, and the prices were as stated in the table 

 at page 47? the habilitadors made bargains, pro- 

 portionably profitable to themselves and hard 

 upon the miners. 



The liberation of Chili, and the consequent 

 establishment of English and North American 

 mercantile houses, have wrought a great change 

 in the whole system ; as will be seen by stating 

 what actually took place in the instance describ- 

 ed above : and this example, with various modi- 



