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PHYSICAL GEOGEIPHY AND BOTANY OF CHILI, 



This distribution of rain is, I believe in direct contradiction to 

 general laws. Eoughly speaking, we may say that in the Desert 

 of Atacama it never rains, while in Chiloe dry days are scarce. I 

 once made a six weeks' voyage to the Chonos Archipelago, and 

 during this time I had not one fine day. It rained but slightly 

 on four or five days, all the rest of the time in torrents, and 

 this in the summer months. 



With regard to the desert of Atacama, I regret to say that we 

 have no reliable knowledge of its rainfall. Professor Philippi 

 made a journey to the desert in 1843-4, and after due enquiry 

 came to the conclusion that it rains there about twice in a centuiy. 

 My friend, Capt. Yidal, of the Chilian Kavy, is of opinion that it 

 rains there every few years. This certainly is somewhat vague 

 but I can obtain no better information. 



Santiago is situated nearly in the centre of Chili. Here it 

 rarely rains from the middle of September to the end of April. 

 The natives pride themselves on their fine summers ; but for my 

 part I should enjoy a few smart showers occasionally, for in 

 consequence of these long droughts, the roads are covered with 

 from six to eight inches of the finest and most annoying dust, 

 rendering a walk or ride in the country truly painful. Trees, 

 houses, people, all are covered with this powder constantly. 

 Luckily the wind is very seldom strong here, or Santiago would 

 be unbearable. The poor naturalist finds his oecupation, so far as 



