Though Chili supplies great abundance of raw ma terials, such as wool, skins, metals, 'lax. and hemp, the manufacturing industry has hitherto been extremely limited. The principal articles of marufactures are woollen stuffs, converted into cloaks, quilts, ponchos, carpets, stockings, and blankets ; cordovan and sole lea ther, soap, skin-coats, saddles, and hats.
The external commerce of Chili is carried on with Peru, Spain, and Buenos Ayres. About twenty years ago, twenty-three vessels were employed in the trade with Peru, each of 600 tons. They made three voyages annually, and exported wheat, wine, almonds, nuts, pears, apples, conserves, pulse, dried meat, neat-tongues, and cheese ; besides, leather, tallow, cordage, copper, and timber for building. The imports, in return, were sil ver, iron, cloth, linen made at Quito, cotton, sugar, rice, cacao, sweet-meats, pickles, tobacco, oil, earthen ware, and all sorts of European commodities. The yearly exports amounted in value to 700,000 dollars. The imported articles were estimated at 500,000, leav ing in favour of Chili a balance of 200,000 dollars. To Buenos Ayres, Chili sends linen and woollen stuffs, partly imported from Peru, and partly of home manufac ture; ponchos, sugar, snuff, wine, and brandy; and re ceives in exchange, wax, the herb Paraguay, and nc groes. The exports to Spain are gold, which amounted, at the above-mentioned period, to 656,000 dollars; sil ver to the value of 244,000 dollars;* a few hides, and a small quantity of Vicugna wool; and in return, European goods were imported to the amount of a million of dol lars: in both cases a considerable balance remained against Chili. The remittances of silver to Spain are conveyed, every summer, in two vessels, which also carry a part of the gold. The articles of home traffic are ponchos, carpets, stockings, blankets, skin-coats, saddles, hats, and some others, intended principally for the use of the lower ranks, the higher class being in ge neral supplied from the manufactures of Europe. Val paraiso receives provisions to the value of ten thousand dollars, and supplies the lest of the country with cedar. Chiloe sends to Valparaiso and Conception several kinds of valuable wood, woollen stuffs in the shape of ponchos, quilts, &c. besides dried pilchards and hams, in high es
timation for their peculiar delicacy of flavour. The trade with the Araucanians consists in supplying them with edge-tools, toys, and wine; for which thc Spaniards re ceive horses, horned cattle, and sometimes even chil dren. The manner of conducting the exchange is thus described by Ulloa : The Spaniard begins his negotia tion by offering the chief of the family a cup of wine; after this he displays his wares, that the Indian may make choice of v. hat best pleases him, mentioning at the same time the return he expects. If they agree, the Spaniard makes hint a present of a little wine; and the Indian chief informs the community, that they are at to trade with that Spaniard as his friend. Relying on this protection, the Spaniard goes from hut to hut, recom mending himself, at first, by gtvIng the head of every family a taste of his wine. After this they enter upon business, and the Indian having taken what he wanted, the trader goes away without receiving any equivalent at that time, and visits the other huts, as they lie dispersed all over the country, till he has disposed of his stock. Ile then returns to the cottage of the chief, calling on his customers in his way, and acquainting them that 110 is on his return home. Upon this summons, not one fails of bringing him to the chief's hut whatever had been agreed upon. Here they take their leave of him, with all the appearance of a sincere friendship ; and the chid even orders SOMC Indians to escort him to the frontiers, and assist him in driving the cattle he has received in exchange for his goods." A sort of fair is held annually on the Spanish frontiers by the Pehuenches. who, besides horses, cattle, skins, wool, gypsum, pitch, fossil salt, feathers, and ostrich eggs, expose also for barter many neat articles of their own manufacture, such as ponchos, bed covers, bridle reins finely wrought of plaited lea ther, baskets, wooden vessels, Re. for which they ex pect in return, wheat, Wine, and some European com modities.