Mapa Tabula Geog Chile

This map by the Chilean Jesuit priest Alonso de Ovalle (1601\u201351) appears in his book Histórica Relación del Reyno de Chile
(Historical narration about the kingdom of Chile), considered the first
history of the country. The map is the result of a major descriptive
effort begun during Ovalle\u2019s first trip to Europe, as \u201cProcurator\u201d of
Chile, in 1641. At the time, the Jesuits needed support for their
missionary work in the south of Chile, and Ovalle was commissioned to
recruit help and raise money. Answering the need for information about
the country, Ovalle\u2019s book and map were published in Rome in 1646, in
both Spanish and Italian editions. The printer was Francesco Cavallo;
Ovalle dedicated the work to Pope Innocent X. The book highlighted
Jesuit missionary activities and focused on the physical, social, and
cultural aspects of Chile during the first 40 years of the 17th century.
It provided detailed topographical and ethnological descriptions of the
southern settlements. Ovalle\u2019s map complemented the text with
illustrations of volcanoes, rivers, and lakes, along with decorative
images of wildlife and vegetation and scenes of people engaged in
various social and commercial activities. The figure of a native with a
tail is a puzzling, unexplained detail. From a cartographic perspective,
the map contains errors. In his statement to the reader (Ad Lectorem), Ovalle admits uncertainties and the absence of longitudes. The orientation of the map is unusual. North (septentrio)
is on the left, placing Tierra del Fuego on the right. The Strait of
Magellan divides the mainland from "Terra Incognita," the as-yet unknown
Antarctica, which is placed in the upper right-hand corner, to the
southeast of the South American continent.