The salubrity of the climate, and the constant exercise on horseback to which the natives of Chili are accustomed from their infancy, render them strong and active, and preserve them from many diseases.  The small-pox is not so common as in Europe, but makes terrible ravages when it appears[105].  In the year 1766, it was first introduced into the province of Maule, where it proved exceedingly fatal.  At this time, a countryman who had recovered from this loathsome disease, conceived the idea of curing those unhappy persons who were deemed in a desperate situation, by means of cows milk, which he gave to his patients to drink, or administered in clysters.  By this simple remedy, he cured all whom he attended; while the physicians saved very few by their complicated prescriptions.  I mention this circumstance, as it strongly confirms the practice of M. Lassone, physician to the queen of France, published in the Medical Transactions of Paris for 1779, who was successful in curing the small-pox with cows milk, mixed with a decoction of parsley roots.  From these instances it would appear, that, milk has the power of lessening the virulence of this terrible disease.

[Footnote 105:  Several years ago, before that terrible French eruption which now desolates Spain, the Spanish government communicated to all her colonies, however distant, the inestimable benefit of vaccination.  It may be here mentioned that it has been long known among the illiterate cow-herds in the mountains of Peru, all either native Peruvians or Negroes, that a disease of the hands which they are liable to be infected with on handling diseased cow udders, the cow-pox, effectually arms all who have been subjected to it against the infection of the small-pox.—­E.]

The Creole inhabitants of Chili are in general generous and benevolent.  Contented with a comfortable subsistence, so easily acquired in that country, they are rarely infected with the vice of avarice, and even scarcely know what parsimony is.  Their houses are universally open to all travellers, whom they entertain with much hospitality, without any idea of being paid; and this virtue is even exercised in the cities.  Hence, they have not hitherto attended to the erection of inns and public lodging-houses, or hotels, which will become necessary when the commerce of the interior becomes more active.  The inhabitants of Chili are very dexterous in using the laqui, which they constantly carry with them on their excursions.  It consists of a strap of leather several fathoms in length, twisted like a cord, one end of which is fastened to the girth under the horses belly, and the other end terminates in a strong noose, which they throw over any animal they wish to catch with so much dexterity as hardly ever to miss their aim[106].  It is used likewise on foot, in which case one end is fixed to the girdle.  The peasants of Chili employed this singular weapon with success against certain English pirates who landed on their coast.