348 Voyage of the Novara. 



tliis displacement of tlie brain is not confined to individuals, 

 but is characteristic of entire tribes, yet without any sensible 

 diminution of the intellectual faculties, or morbidity in their 

 exercise. 



The valley of Azapa, tlu-ee Spanish leagues (nine miles 

 English) distant from Arica, is very fertile, and a good soil, 

 but badly supplied with water. However, at an expense of 

 a few millions of dollars, a communication might easily be 

 established with the waters of the river Arica, the expense of 

 which would be amply repaid by the increased productive 

 power thus given to the valley. Sugar-cane, vintage-grape, 

 oranges, pine-apples, olives, and vegetables of every descrip- 

 tion, could forthwith be raised, and advantageously disposed 

 of at Arica. 



Among the Germans resident in Arica, w^e formed the ac- 

 quaintance of M. Colmann, a merchant, and Consul for Chile, 

 as also of Dr. Mittendorf, tlie latter of whom is physician to 

 the Railway Company here. By the latter gentleman we were 

 told that cuticular diseases, dysentery, and intermittent fevers 

 were the most common ailments, but that on the wdiole the 

 climate of Arica is healthy, and that many cases of illness 

 were solely attributable to the irregular, licentious mode of 

 life of the natives. Although it hardly ever rains, yet during 

 the summer season (January to March), when the snows 

 begin to melt in the Interior, and tremendous falls of rain 

 occur on the Cordillera, the beds of the rivers become torrents, 

 wheeling along vast volumes of water to the sea, and partly 



