In this interesting work the author attempts to verify his thesis concerning the social and economic origin of the inquilinos of Chile. Gongora affirms, and cites impressive documentation as support, that the typical Chilean agricultural society of the nineteenth and twentieth century did not develop as a result of the encomienda system, but arose because of internal transformations in Chilean society. In the seventeenth century the mestizos, formerly connected with the military, were incorporated into rural life, becoming either hired farm hands or renters. Some were placed on farms along disputed boundary lines in order to maintain the landlord’s control over his borders.
The eighteenth century brought an acceleration in rural economic and social stratification as farming became highly profitable. The owners, for the first time, began to increase the labor force on their estates and, therefore, the inquilino appeared.
Góngora has raised an interesting thesis and further research will illuminate his effort.
