In like manner firewood, and of course every article of food, is imported.

Very few animals can be maintained in such a place: on the ensuing morning I hired with difficulty, at the price of four pounds sterling, two mules and a guide to take me to the nitrate of soda works.

These are at present the support of Iquique.

This salt was first exported in 1830: in one year an amount in value of one hundred thousand pounds sterling was sent to France and England.

It is principally used as a manure and in the manufacture of nitric acid: owing to its deliquescent property it will not serve for gunpowder.