The Geographical, Natural, and Civil History of Chili 2 Volume Set

by Giovanni Ignazio Molina

Juan Ignacio Molina (1740–1829) was a Jesuit priest born in Chile but forced to flee to Europe after his religious order was expelled from the Spanish Empire in 1767. He settled in Bologna, Italy, and began to write a natural history of his homeland, which was first published in Italian in 1782 (he is also known as Giovanni Ignazio Molina). He completed a second volume on the history of the people of Chile in 1786, and a version of the book was in the library of HMS Beagle. This two-volume English translation was published in 1809, and also includes notes from other explorers, including a 1791 account of Chile by Pedro González de Agüeros (1768–93) and a 1774 description of Patagonia by Thomas Falkner (1707–84). Volume 1 discusses the natural history of the country, and Volume 2, its people, both indigenous and Spanish settlers.

746 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2012

About the author

Fr. Juan Ignacio Molina or Giovanni Ignazio Molina (also known as Abate Molina) was a Jesuit priest born in Villa Alegre (Capitanía General de Chile) while it was still part of the Spanish Empire. Historian and geographer, he was also a naturalist, a botanist and an ornithologist.