1846.] 



THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 567 



June, 1846. — The geology of the western coast of South America is very inter, 

 esting, in consequence of the great convulsions of nature which have taken place 

 since the settlement of the country by Europeans, and also the visible effects of 

 these which have occurred at a remoter period. Here, cities have been sunk and 

 long lines of coast elevated in a few minutes, while the shattered and broken 

 rocks, traversed by innumerable dykes of green stone, show what commotions 

 formerly took place. The surrounding hills of Valparaiso consist of a granitic 

 formation, which sometimes assumes the character of gneiss, and sometimes of 

 granite. Their summits are flat-topped, and their flanks are rounded. That side 

 of these mountains which fronts the prevailing winds is generally covered with 

 forest. Here, during the summer, whieh forms the greater part of the year, the 

 wind blows straightly from the southward, and a little offshore, so that rain never 

 falls; but during the three winter months it is sufBciently abundant. The vegeta- 

 tion in consequence is very scanty. 



Chile is traversed by several mountain chains, between which are beautiful val- 

 lies, and these are connected by narrow passages. These vallies, together with the 

 passages, were formerly the bottoms of inlets and bays. A very fine kind of wheat 

 is extensively cultivated in these vallies, also Indian corn, peaches, figs, apples, 

 grapes, strawberries, and many other kinds of fruit ; but the staple food, particularly 

 among the laboring classes, is a kind of bean. 



Bell mountain is six thousand four hundred feet high, and twenty-six miles dis- 

 tant from Valparaiso, and at this season of the year presents a fine view, covered 

 with snow. 



In the neighborhood much copper is found, and the ore is mostly sent to Swan- 

 sea, England, to be smelted. The Chile government, or rather the old Spanish law, 

 encourages the searching for mines. The discoverer may work a mine on any 

 ground by paying five shillings, and before paying, he may even try in the garden 

 of another man. The Chilian method is still the cheapest. The two principal im- 

 provements introduced by foreigners have been, first, by roasting the copper pyrites, 

 which is the common ore in Cornwall, and the English miners found this thrown 

 away as useless ; secondly, stamping an(J -washing the scoria from the furnaces, 

 by which process particles of metal are recovered in abundance. They send to 

 England cargoes of this scoria or cinders. The Chilian miners thought that there 

 was not a particle of copper in the pyrites, and were under this mistake for many 

 years, and laughed at the English who bought their richest veins for a'few dollars. 

 The workmen receive about one pound sterling per month and food, which con- 

 sists of sixteen figs and two small loaves of bread for breakfast, and for dinner 

 boiled beans, for supper broken roasted wheat grain. The miners who work in 

 the mines receive about twenty-five shillings per mouth, and are allowed a little 

 " charqui" or dried beef. 



Very respectfuly submitted, 



J. C. REINHARDT, Naturalist. 



To Captain John Percival, 



Commanding United States Frigate Constitution . 



