and looks somewhat like one of the smaller mimosas. It produces a pod about the shape and size of a peanut. The matured pod makes a black ink upon infusion with a mordant; but is mainly used by tanners, as it greatly accelerates the process of tanning. It is also used in the cleaning of boilers. It began to be exploited commercially about T8go0. It is now gathered by the natives and sacked for storage. When a sufficient amount has been gathered for a shipment it is taken to port, chiefly to Vallenar, and sent to the tanneries of Europe, principally to Liverpool (and to Hamburg before the World War) except for 3000 to 4000 bags which are used by the tan- neries of Chile. In rainy years—that is after two or three showers in winter—there is a crop of 20,000 or 30,000 bags of 200 pounds each which averages in Liverpool about £14 per ton. In 1913 the crop amounted to 20,000 bags, and at the prices then prevailing was worth $too,oo0. In rainless years the bush does not produce fruit. It is uncultivated and is decreasing, owing to the fact that it is cut for fuel. It grows only to the north of La Serena and the south of Copiapé.
In years of favorable rains donkeys and mules bring down wood, algarrobilla, and the,products of the smallest mines scattered through the mountains. In bad years the mules must be fed on stored alfalfa; this makes it expensive to use them in transportation away from the irrigated valley, with the consequence that the ores of the scattered mines are allowed to accumulate, and the supply of algarrobilla falls off. In such times the gatherers of this plant become greedy of rivals and take the product green, letting it ripen in the house or court- yard. It is then inferior to the naturally ripened product. “Cueva” algarrobilla is that stored in holes in the ground by rodents. The natives gather it to supplement poor crops, but it is in such condition as to command only a low price.
Chinchilla Hunting
The tiny chinchilla has a silver gray and extremely fine and light fur, one of the most highly prized of commerce. The animal inhabits crevices in the rock and openings in loose piles
