NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



prevail during a great part of the year, even where no 

 strong winds are present to excite them. Gales are 

 undoubtedly common in the zone between the fiftieth 

 and sixtieth degrees of south latitude, and the waves 

 habitually run higher there than they ever do in the 

 comparatively confined area of the Atlantic. The 

 disturbances are propagated to great distances, 

 modified, of course, by winds, currents, and the form 

 of the coasts when they approach the land ; but the 

 smooth waters that extend more than thirty degrees 

 on either side of the equator are rarely encountered 

 in higher latitudes. The skies brightened as the 

 day wore on, and the sun from time to time broke 

 through the clouds ; but we were out of sight of land, 

 and the only objects in view during the day were the 

 sea, the sky, and the numerous sea-fowl that followed 

 the ship. The incessant rolling made it difficult to 

 settle down to any occupation. 



We were now abreast of that large tract of Chili 

 which has been left in the possession of its aboriginal 

 owners, the Araucanian Indians, extending about one 

 hundred miles from north to south, and a rather greater 

 distance from the coast to the crest of the Cordillera. 

 It is unfortunate that so little is known of the 

 Araucanians, as, in many respects, they appear to be 

 the most interesting remaining tribe of the aboriginal 

 American population. For nearly two centuries they 

 maintained their independence in frequent sanguinary 

 encounters with the Spaniards, which are said on 

 Chilian authority to have cost the invaders the loss of 

 100,000 men. Since the establishment of Chilian 

 independence, the policy of the republic has been to 



