284 A VOYAGE TO BookVIIL 

 from Santiago, in order to be more conveniently fitu- 

 ated for trade ; fince which it has gradually increafed, 

 fp that at prefent it is both large and populous ; and 

 \^ould be dill larger were it not for its inconvenient fi- 

 tuation, (landing fo near the foot of a mountain, that 

 a great part of the houfes are built on its acclivity, or 

 in its breaches. The broadeft and moft convenient 

 part is that along the coaft, but this is very unpleafant 

 in winter, being fo expofed to the N. winds, that the 

 waves beat againft the walls of the houfes, fome of 

 which are built of unburnt bricks, fome of chalk and 

 pebbles, and others of bajareques. 



Valparaiso, befides its parifh church, has a con- 

 vent of Francifcans, and another of Auguftines ; but 

 very few religious, and the churches belonging to 

 them fmall and mean. It is inhabited by families of 

 Spaniards, and Cafts, both Mulattoes, and Meftizos. 

 In its neighbourhood are feveral villages, and the great 

 number of farm houfes give the country a chearful ap- 

 pearance. Here is a military governor nominated by 

 the king, who having the command of the garrifons 

 in the feveral ports, and of the militia of the place 

 and its dependencies, is to take care that they are pro- 

 perly difciplined. 



The proximity of this port to Santiago has drawn 

 hither all the commerce formerly carried on at that 

 city. To this it owes its foundation, increafe, and 

 prefent profperity. At prefent all the Callao fhips 

 which carry on the commerce between the two king- 

 doms come hither. The cargoes they bring are in- 

 deed but fmail, confiding only of the goods already 

 mentioned, as not produced in Chili. But in this port 

 they take in wheat, tallow, cordovan, leather, cordage, 

 and dried fruits, and with thefe return to Callao j and 

 a fhip has been known to make three voyages in one 

 fummer, namely, between November and June, during 

 which interval, the droves of mules and carriages frorh 

 all the farm houfes in the jurifdi£tion of Santiago, 

 bring frefh fupplies to the warehoufes^ that trade is 



^arri^^ 



