Ch.IX. south AMERICA. 273 



All the gold thus colledled in Chili is bought 

 up in the country, and fent to Lima to be coined, 

 there being no mint in Chili and by the accounts 

 conftantly taken, it amounts one year with another 

 to fix hundred thoufand dollars ; but that clande- 

 ftinely fent by way of the cordillera is faid to be 

 nearly four hundred thoufand. Confequently the 

 whole muft be at leaft a million. In the countries of 

 Coquimbo and Guafco mines of all kinds of metals 

 are fo very common, that the whole earth feems 

 wholly compofed of minerals; and it is here thofe 

 of copper are worked, and from them all Peru and 

 the kingdom of Chili are furnifhed with that metal. 

 But though this copper exceeds every thing of the 

 kind hitherto known, the mines are worked with 

 great caution, and no more metal extradled than 

 is fufficient to anfwer the ufual demand ; and other 

 mines, though known to be equally rich, are left 

 untouched. 



In exchange for the grain, fruits, provifions, and 

 metals, which Chili fends to Peru, it receives iron, 

 cloth, and linen made at Quito, hats, bays, thousk 

 not many of the latter, there being manufadurcs 

 of the fame kind in Chili, fugar, cacao, fvveetmeats, 

 pickles, tobacco, oil, earthen ware, and all kinds 

 of European goods. A fmall commerce is alfo 

 carried on between the kingdom of Chili, Paraguay 

 and Buenos Ayres, of which the latter is the ftaple. 

 The produ6ts of Paraguay, which indeed confift 

 only in its herb and wax, are carried thither, then 

 forwarded to Chili, v/hence the herb is exported to 

 - Peru. Large quantities of tallow are alfo fent to 

 Mendoza for making of foap. In exchange for thelc 

 commodities Chili fends to Buenos Ayres linen and 

 woollen fluffs, fome of which are imported from 

 Peru, and others manufadured in the country : 

 alfo Ponchos, fugar, fnuff, wine and brandy, the 

 two lafl the traders chiefly buy at Sj^n Juan, as mofl 

 Vol. II. T con- 



