Compendium of the Natural and Civil History of Chile

those inhabitants, who whenever they wish to give the reason for some phenomenon concerning their atmosphere or their lands, recur to the influences of that mountain as their most principal and most immediate agent.

But despite this, such a valuable country is still known only very superficially; a country that, no less in its physical aspects than in its political ones, presents various facts worthy of consideration. Scarcely any mention is found of its productions in the works of authors who currently treat the created things that lie scattered across the various regions of the entire earth: so much so, that the character, the customs, and the harmonious language of its ancient inhabitants lie as ignored as the marvelous efforts with which they have sought to defend their liberty in the many battles they have fought from the beginning of the conquest until our days.

It is certain that the educated travelers The text cuts off here; "viageros instruidos" likely refers to enlightened explorers or scientific travelers of the late 18th century.