171 
several months, it is not often obscured in the northern 
provinces, * . 
The gradual decrease of the atmospheric moisture from 
the south of Chili to the north of Peru, is one of the most 
singular features of the climate, and, as might be ex- 
pected, its effects are shown in a manner not less remarkable 
in the appearance of the vegetation. In the southern pro- 
vinces of Chili, those of Baldivia and Conception, and the 
Indian territory lying. between them, where the country 
is watered by copious rains, forests of lofty trees abound, 
the earth is covered during a great part of the year with 
herbaceous plants, and large crops of corn are. obtained 
without artificial irrigation. . From Conception, most of the 
timber consumed in Chili and Peru is exported.. The trees 
usually felled for this purpose, and which are common in the 
forests, are the Roble,+ (Fagus obliqua, Lingui, (Laurus 
Lingui,  Queule, (Gomertiga nitida,) Laurel, (Laurelia 
aromatica,) Canelo, (Drymis chilensis,) Reuli, (?). Avellano, 
(Quadria heterophylla,) and Litri, (Rhus? bapi Hook. 
& Arn. in Bot. of Beech. Voy.) 
The Araucaria imbricata, with the exception of one or two 
trees near the coast that have probably been planted, is only 
found in the interior of the Indian country, south of the Bio- 
bio. Its wood is said to be very resinous and close-grained, 
but brittle. Whether it be from this circumstance, or the 
difficulty of transporting it from the interior, l am not 
aware, but the timber of the Araucaria is never exported. = 
Some of the trees above-named are peculiar to the south 
of Chili, but the Roble and. Laurel are found as far north 
* This refers only to the coast ; — ÁN 
that heavy rains fall at certain seasons in the interior. xad 
, $ Jis i the Spanish name of the: Oaks and ia applied to this tres though 
belonging to a different genus, on account of the strength and durability of its 
timber, 
t The Res of that neighbourhood subsist entirely on <i of > 
Araucaria, which they harvest and bury in pits for winter-use. e name o! 
the tribe is derived from that of the tree which affords their food, the Araucaria 
being called Pehuca in the Indian language, and ches signifying people. 
