Elevation of the Coast of Chili, 99 



In detailing the results of his researches, he gives extracts from 

 all the historical and documentary evidence which he has been able 

 to consult, separating those proofs of accession of land which may be 

 ascribed to the deposition of sedimentary matter, from those which 

 demonstrate a vertical movement. 



1. Accumulations of sedimentary matter. The Abate Molina states, 

 that the sea had long been gradually retiring, and even hazards the 

 observation, that in some places it had receded two, in others, espe- 

 cially near the mouth of rivers, six inches annually. Near the village 

 Talcahuano, Frezier says, that in 1712 the depth of water near the 

 shore was from five to six fathoms ; while Ulloa in 1744 gives five 

 fathoms, and Capt. Fitzroy has found the soundings near the same 

 spot to be only three and four fathoms. Frezier also states, that in 

 Valparaiso Bay vessels anchored close to the shore in eight or ten 

 fathoms ; and Ulloa, in fourteen fathoms at the distance of a cable 

 and a half; though at present the soundings at the same distance are 

 five to seven fathoms. In 1778, a Spanish seventy-four moored within 

 a cable's length of the arsenal in fifty fathoms water, where there are 

 now but six. 



In the port of Coquimbo, according to Frezier, at half a cable's 

 length from the Tortoise Rock, the soundings were from six to ten 

 fathoms: they are now from three to four: it is also said that a whale 

 once passed between the rock and the main land. In the port of 

 Huasco, the same author gives the depth very near the shore to be 

 eighteen and twenty fathoms; but a vessel (the Byron) in 1831, 

 touched upon the ballast she had thrown out. 



At Mr. Caldcleugh's first visit to Valparaiso in 1821, the town 

 consisted of one narrow causeway with houses on one side, and part 

 of the road which wound round an old fort, was washed by the sea at 

 every high tide. On a late visit to the port, he found that two lines 

 of houses had been built to seaward of the original street, and that 

 vessels of three or four hundred tons were obliged to anchor much 

 further out. 



With respect to the dependence which ought to be placed on the 

 precedingobservations, he says, that the facilities for making them were 

 great, as vessels, to avoid the gusts from the gulleys, almost always 

 anchor on the same spot; and he remarks in explanation of this great 

 accumulation of detritus, that the rivers of Chili partake, with few 

 exceptions, of the nature of mountain torrents, swollen in winter by 

 the rains, and in summer by the melting of the snow in the great 

 Cordillera. 



2. Evidences of vertical movements. — The author then proceeds to 

 point out the evidences of change between land and sea, which can- 

 not be accounted for by the accumulation of loose materials. 



In Concepcion Bay there are two or three rocks which are not 

 noticed by Frezier or Ulloa, but of which seamen are now warned; and 

 the Belemrock has at present two fathoms upon it at low water, while 

 in the chart of Ulloa it is not laid down. 



In the Bay of Valparaiso, outside of the inner point near the Que- 



02 



