THE COAST OF CHILI. 129 



well be calculated, according to the number of its 

 inhabitants, which is said to be 10,000 ; the broad 

 river Biobio, on which it is situated, adds much to 

 its beauty. There are now no more Spanish settle- 

 ments on the other side of the river ; the land is 

 inhabited by Araucanas. Before I left the town, 

 I requested the Governor to honour with his pre- 

 sence a ball which I intended to give at Talca- 

 guano to the principal inhabitants, on the 3d of 

 March. 



29th February. Our smith, ZiganzofF, died to- 

 day, after a very lingering illness, in spite of all the 

 attention of our able physician. In the choice of 

 my sailors I had taken particular care to select 

 healthy and naturally robust men ; I had suc- 

 ceeded in all of them, except the smith, who had 

 concealed his illness for fear of not being taken 

 with us. Soon after we had left England he fell 

 into a consumption ; he was not able to leave his 

 bed during our voyage from Brazil to Chili, and 

 died on shore, where he was decently buried, and 

 followed to the grave by Spanish soldiers. 



I think it not superfluous to advise every navi- 

 gator that visits this place, to caution his people 

 in the use of wine. In some of the numerous pub- 

 lic-houses at Talcaguano, they mix with the wine 

 the juice of an herb unknown to us, which pro- 

 duces the most horrid effect ; for it throws people 

 into a state bordering on frenzy, which is followed 

 by a general relaxation of the nerves. Several of 



VOL. I. K 



