These enumerated articles, with the sale of hides and leather, grain and wine, form the whole internal commerce of Chili.  The external commerce is principally with the ports of Peru, and particulary with that of Callao, the port of Lima.  To the amount of about 700,000 dollars is yearly sent to Peru in the productions of Chili, serving not only to counterbalance the importations from that country, but leaving an annual balance of 200,000 dollars in favour of Chili.  The trade between Chili and Buenos Ayres is on the contrary in favour of the latter, as Chili has to pay about 300,000 dollars yearly in cash for the herb Paraguay alone.  The other articles received from Buenos Ayres are probably paid for by those which are sent to that place.  In the trade with Spain, the productions of Chili go but a short way in payment of the European goods which are annually imported to the value of more than a million of dollars.  Gold, silver, and copper, form the whole of the articles sent from Chili to Spain, as the hides and Vicugna wool are of too little importance to be considered.”

[Footnote 107:  These observations on the trade of Chili, distinguished by inverted commas, are inserted into the text from a long note in this part of the work of Molina—­E.]

“Gold to the extent of 5200 marks[108], and as the amounts which are coined and shipped are nearly equal, there does not appear to be any clandestine extraction.  But a considerable quantity is expended in bullion, in works of use or ornament.  The silver extracted from the mines of Chili is estimated at 30,000 marks yearly[109].  Of this about 25,000 marks are coined annually, and the residue is employed in the fabrication of plate.  Yet a considerably larger amount is shipped every year, arising from the coined silver, which is transmitted from Lima.  The remittances of gold and silver from Chili to Spain passes usually through Buenos Ayres.  The gold, being less bulky, is carried by land, by the monthly packets, in sums of two or three thousand ounces.  The silver is sent by two ships every summer, which likewise carry a part of the gold.  The remittances of gold amount annually to 656,000 dollars[110], the silver to 244,000[111]; and the copper annually extracted from the mines of Chili is estimated at from eight to ten thousand quintals[112].  From these data it will not be difficult to form a general estimate of the value of yearly produce from Chili[113].”

[Footnote 108:  The mark being eight ounces may be valued at L.4; hence the yearly production of gold in Chili is equal to about L.166,400 sterling.—­E.]

[Footnote 109:  At eight ounces the mark, and 6s. per ounce, this amounts only to the yearly value of L.72,000 sterling.—­E.]

[Footnote 110:  At 4s. 6d. the dollar, equal to L.147,600 sterling.—­E.]

[Footnote 111:  Or L.54,900 sterling.—­E.]

[Footnote 112:  The quintal of 100 pounds, at 1s. 6d. a pound, gives an average value of L.67,500 sterling for the yearly produce of copper.—­E.]