Early in the nineteenth century he entered upon his duties as captain in the army at Buenos Aires; the date of this event is sometimes given as 1803. When the famous junta gobernativa was formed, May 25, 1810, Carvallo took up the cause of the revolution with great enthusiasm, but his failing health prevented him from rendering the efficient service he had desired to give. He died in 1816. Some time after his death Juan Arias, his son-in-law and sole heir, appeared at Buenos Aires to receive his meagre inheritance. The following is Arias’ report of his conversation with the officer in charge of Carvallo’s affairs: “My friend, your father-in-law is dead.” “I am already aware of that misfortune.” “He declared that you were his sole heir.” “I have read the will, and I wish you would please to order that the poor articles of his property may be given to me.” “These articles were reduced to his clothing in use and a few silver spoons.” “Where shall I be able to get them?” “My friend, as you were not here, I gave the clothing to some Chilean immigrants, who were in want.” “But the spoons?” “I sold them and used the proceeds in causing masses to be said for the eternal repose of Carvallo.” “Besides the clothing and the spoons, I am especially interested in the manuscript of a History of Chile, which my father-in-law had written. Please let me know where that bundle of papers is.” “I sold it for two hundred pesos on account of masses for the departed Carvallo.”[206] IV [Sidenote: Some geographical descriptions] Throughout the colonial period geographical description held a prominent place among the writings of Spanish Americans. _Descripción de Chile_, by Ponce de León, _Población de Valdivia_, by Miguel de Aguirre and _Explicación de la plaza y puerto_, by Pedro de Moreno, are among early works of this kind. Ponce de León and Aguirre wrote in the seventeenth century, while Moreno’s _Explicación_ was published in 1731. A little later Pedro Usauro Martínez de Bernabé wrote an account of the presidio and city of Valdivia. This author arrived in Chile very young, and at the age of seventeen, in 1749, he was already under military training. For many years later he was in service as a member of the garrison of Valdivia, and through his long service in this region he became familiar with the natural peculiarities and the state of affairs in the southern part of Chile. The extent and accuracy of his observations, and his ability to attain general views based on these observations give his writings a certain superiority over many of the works in this field. [Sidenote: Ciudad encantada de los Césares]