22 DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY. 



selves, though scarcely comparable with, the more imposing one just mentioned. Below the 

 falls the two streams again unite, and have worn a deep and narrow channel in the solid rock, 

 through which the volume rushes with great fury. 



Originating on the slope dividing the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific, which is here to 

 the westward of the Sierra Belinda, the Duqueco, after a west by south course of sixty miles, 

 falls into the main stream not far from the western limit of the plain. The Bergara is the most 

 southern tributary, its source being in latitude 38 18'. Together with its affluents, it drains 

 the plain between the Central Cordilleras and the Biobio, joining the latter at Nacimiento, a 

 small settlement in latitude 3*7 26', and about two leagues below the mouth of the Duqueco. 

 The Biobio commences in an outlet of Lake Grualletue, from whence its course, as far as the 

 valley of Santa Barbara forty miles is nearly northwest. Across the plain, to the confluence 

 of the Bergara, its direction is more westerly, and thence the three united streams proceed, in 

 a north by west route, seven leagues further, to the Laja. From the last point to the ocean 

 forty miles the general direction is W.N.W., through an extremely fertile country all its 

 ravines, most of the hills, and a portion of the level fields between them being covered with fine 

 timber. For two thirds of this distance the river, now more than a mile in width, flows 

 majestically through the Central and Western Cordilleras, in this latitude diminished to hills, 

 none of which attain a greater elevation than 1,000 feet. From their rolling and diversified 

 surface, large quantities of grain, wine, and timber are exported to the northern provinces ; 

 and were not the people of the district still apprehensive of the terrible aboriginal tribes their 

 neighbors to the south it would inevitably become the most valuable part of the republic. 

 That which seems most remarkable in the vegetation of this country, is the fact that forests do 

 not exist either on the eastern slopes of the Central cordillera or the great plain ; whilst the whole 

 sub-Andine belt, as well as the entire region west of the first-named divisional line, is covered 

 with grand Araucarias, Robles, Alerces, and Laurels, of various kinds, growing to the very sur- 

 face of the water. At Concepcion the Biobio is a noble stream, nearly two miles wide, with 

 abundant water for shipping, and it is navigable by boats as high up as Nacimiento; but, 

 unfortunately, on account of the sand-banks across its mouth, and a heavy southwest swell very 

 generally setting into it, it is not accessible from the ocean, except by small craft. To com- 

 pensate for this somewhat, the Bay of Talcahuano is close by to the northward, and government 

 has recently caused a survey to be made for a canal between the bay and river. The task was 

 confided to Mr. Allan Campbell, a highly scientific and experienced engineer, whose report 

 shows that such communication is practicable, and may be made at comparatively small cost. 



The Itata has its origin in the lower Andes, nearly 2,000 feet above the Pacific, and not far 

 from the thirty-seventh parallel. This is the branch that preserves the name to its source, 

 though the Nuble, its principal affluent, has really greater extent and volume. Above the 

 junction of the latter stream, several torrents from the mountains discharge their waters into 

 it, and impart velocity to its otherwise sluggish current. A part of these are heated mineral 

 waters issuing from a district several leagues in extent, between latitude 36 15' and 36 27', 

 longitude 71 and 71 10'. From its head to the confluence of the Nuble, by the winding 

 of the river, the distance in a northwest direction is thirty leagues. The Nuble is formed 

 within the Andes at an elevation of 6,000 feet, partly by the copious streams of hot mineral 

 water known as the sulphur baths of Chilian, and partly from the melting snows, whose summer 

 line is scarce a thousand feet above them. As has just been stated, there is a large heated tract 

 in this vicinity, some of the rocks being of such temperature that they scorch shoes or clothing 

 remaining on them a few minutes, and for leagues around the air is poisoned by villanous 

 emissions from fumarolas in many parts of it. The ridge which separates these waters from 

 one of the sources of the Netiquen, a tributary of the Rio Negro, is about four leagues further 

 east. From its western shed several small torrents descend to the Nuble, from whose origin to 

 the junction of the Itata the distance is thirty-five leagues, and thence to the ocean, in latitude 

 36, thirteen leagues further. A number of smaller tributaries from the southward tend to 



