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Chile hath East, the Virginian Ocean; West, Mare dell Zur; North, Peru; and South, the Streights of Magellanus. It taketh its denomination from the vehemency of the cold here. The Countrey toward the mid-land is mountainous, and unfruitfull; toward the shore level, fruitfull, and watered with divers Rivers. The Spaniards find here good plenty of Gold, abundance of Honey, store of Cattel, and Wine enough for their own use. The People are very warlike, and of a Giant-like stature, as being (some of them) 11 foot high. The chief Towns are Arequipoum, St. James, built by the Spaniard; Cocimbam, Villadives, and the Imperial.

— A Geographical Description of the World (1671) by George Meriton