Compendium of the Natural and Civil History of Chile

IX

[...circumstances in which] I found myself, and which interrupted my labors, deprived me even of the hope that the day might come when I could continue them again. However, since various materials most necessary for my undertaking have come into my hands by a fortunate coincidence, I dedicated myself to crafting the present essay from my interrupted labors on the natural history of that part of America. This will be followed in a short time by another essay or compendium on its civil history In the 18th century, "civil history" referred to the study of human society, government, and political events, as opposed to "natural history," which focused on the environment and biology..

The work I now publish is divided into four books. In the first, after giving a brief description of the Kingdom of Chile—which serves as a fitting introduction to the rest of the work—I discuss its seasons, its rains, and other aqueous meteors aqueous meteors: at the time, "meteor" referred to any atmospheric phenomenon; "aqueous" (watery) specifically meant rain, snow, or dew; its winds, its fiery exhalations A term used in early science to describe vapors or gases believed to cause lightning or fuel volcanic activity., the volcanoes found in its mountains and ranges, the earthquakes felt there, and the healthfulness of its climate.

In the other three books, intended fo...