i88 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Baths of Apoquinto— Slopes of the Cordillera— Excursion to 

 Santa Rosa de los Andes and the valley of Aconcagua — 

 Return to Valparaiso — Voyage in the German steamer 

 Rha?nses — Visit to Lota — Parque of Lota — Coast of Southern 

 Chili — Gulf of PeSas — Hale Cove — Messier's Channel — 

 Beautiful scenery — The English narrows — Eden harbour — 

 Winter vegetation — Eyre Sound — Floating ice — Sarmiento 

 Channel — Puerto Bueno— Smyth's Channel — Entrance to 

 the Straits of Magellan — Glorious morning — Borya Bay — 

 Mount Sarmiento — Arrival at Sandy Point. 



Having devoted the day following my return to 

 Santiago to botanical work, chiefly in the herbarium 

 of Dr. Philippi, I started on the following morning in 

 company with his son, Professor Friedrich Philippi, 

 for an excursion up the slopes of the mountain range 

 nearest the city. My companion had kindly sent 

 forward in advance his servant with horses, and we 

 engaged a hackney coach to convey us to the Baths 

 of Apoquinto, where a warm mineral spring bursts 

 out at the very base of the mountain. The common 

 carriages throughout South America are heavy 

 lumbering vehicles, and the road, though nearly level, 

 was deep in volcanic sand ; but the horses are 

 excellent, and, in spite of several halts to collect a few 



