370 



Chile. 



of Patagonia and the Argentine Republic, only broken here and 

 there by inconspicuous ridges which represent a great mountain 

 system now nearly worn away. 



The rainfall of Chile depends upon the prevalent winds. 

 All winds from the east cross the Argentine and lose all moisture 

 long before they rise into the cold Andine passes, where they 

 form violent and dangerous hurricanes. These blow especially 

 from ID a.m., thus travellers have to cross in the early morning. 

 We left the night's hotel at 4 a.m., and got over on mule-back 

 by 7.30. But by a sort of suction these winds cause a breeze 

 over the central valley which begins about 1-2 p.m. After a 

 morning of brilliant sunshine, it dies off towards night. During 

 the night cold air flows down into the valley from the Andes. 



There lies in the Pacific Ocean a permanent eddy, a kind of 

 "swirl," in the atmosphere. It follows that on all southern 

 Chile a procession of westerly winds from the Pacific deposits 

 abundant rain on the Pacific slopes and West Coast islands, 

 As one passes north in Chile these winds are either parellel to or 

 awav from the coast and bring no rain. 



Thus the rainfall varies : — 



The last is Dr Coppinger's estimate. 



The aristocracy are mostly Spanish descendants of the 

 conguistadores, but many of the ruling families are partly of 

 British descent. It must be remembered that South American 

 republics owe a great deal to us. Our army in the Spanish 

 peninsula, the great Earl of Dundonald, Elamirante Cochrane, 

 guarded the Pacitiic for the insurgents. O'Higgins, the liberator, 

 was the descendant of a West Meath Irishman, and such names 

 as Walker, Pratt, Condell, Rogers, Simpson, and Gol wards are 

 found amongst the Chilian aristocracy. The loans which enabled 

 the voung republic to fight were raised in London, and, in fact, 



