Compendium of the Natural and Civil History of Chile

-in of mountains. Between the 24th and 32nd degrees of latitude, it the sea recedes from them about 70 leagues, and up to the 37th degree, about 40; but as it moves 100 leagues away from this parallel until reaching the Chiloé Archipelago, it can be stated—by reducing these various distances to an average—that the total area of its surface, including the mountain range, does not exceed 1,260 square leagues.

Boundaries.

This country borders the aforementioned Pacific Ocean to the west, Peru to the north, Tucumán, Cuyo, and Patagonia to the east, and the Magellanic lands The regions surrounding the Strait of Magellan at the southern tip of South America. to the south. original: "medio dia" (midday), a historical term for South. The great mountain range which, as we have explained, encircles it to the east, original: "levante" (the rising sun). also completely separates it from all these regions—either by the main range itself or by its branches—serving simultaneously as an impregnable barrier on the land side, while the ocean defends it to the west; original: "poniente" (the setting sun). indeed, the few roads leading to this Kingdom from the aforementioned provinces, which are only open during the summer, original: "estío." are so narrow and dangerous that a man on horseback can scarcely pass through them (1).

(1) The passable roads through the Chilean mountain range number no more than eight or nine, the most...