October 

 1825. 



26 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap, narrow stream is divided by a rock one-third of the 

 way across it. If the plan of the entrance be cor- 

 rect in the chart annexed to La Perouse's Voyage, the 

 formation of these banks has been very rapid, and 

 has altered the channel of the river. 



The population of Conception is about 6500 per- 

 sons. The inhabitants, the labouring class at least, 

 have a particularly healthy look. The men have 

 hard features and strong sinewy limbs, and the 

 women and children are fatter than would be agree- 

 able to most persons : short stature, dark hair and 

 eyes, and pretty Indian features, are the characteris- 

 tics of their persons. They are subject to but few 

 diseases ; and for these they have their own remedies, 

 consisting principally of medicinal herbs, with which 

 the country abounds, and in the preparation of 

 which they are well skilled. Fevers, occasioned by 

 cold and dampness, are the most common complaints. 

 In the streets of Conception I did not see a single 

 cripple, a very rare circumstance in Spanish towns ; 

 nor were we molested by beggars, beyond a few 

 troublesome boys beseeching alms; and this arose 

 more from impudence, and a determination to try 

 their luck, than from any real necessity : in secret, 

 however, there are not wanting persons who, if op- 

 portunity offered, would not only solicit charity, 

 but enforce their demand with a pistol or a stiletto. 

 On meeting the Indians in an unfrequented part of 

 the country, it is particularly necessary to be upon 

 your guard ; for these half-civilized barbarians are 

 generally intoxicated, and care very little about 

 insulting or maltreating strangers even in the heart 

 of the town, much less when alone in the country. 

 A regiment of Araucaneans is embodied in the army 



