THE CLIMATE. 83 



the difference between them was sometimes so great as 18. They approximated more closely 

 at midnight than at any other of the obm-rvat ion hours, being then at an average of lens than 

 1 apart. Here, then, one \\oiild anticipate drar weather, and cloudless skies do predominate. 

 We are beyond even this distinction between winter and summer, nor are we surprised to find 

 dial some !' die deciduous trees nt times neglect to shake off their summer livery. Twenty 

 miles yet nearer to the Andes, and at an elevation of 3,700 feet, the degree of dryness, electrical 

 tension, and transparency of the atmosphere, are still more remarkable, and its temperature 

 more uniform. The wood of boxes which had withstood the dry summer atmosphere of San- 

 tiago during two seasons was here warped and split ; and it is not unusual for strangers who 

 pass several hours of the day in the sun to find the nostrils, eyelids, and lips crack under the 

 powerful influences of evaporation and reflected heat. In this vicinity it was that a party of 

 us saw the cusps of Venus in the morning twilight with our unassisted eyes, and I never tired 

 with looking on the countless brilliant orbs which seemed to have descended half-way from 

 infinity. Away from the mountain rivulets, there is no indigenous vegetation except a few 

 d'.varf cacti ; and it is only when a chance shower once in two or three years sprinkles the surface 

 for an hour or so, that Nature proves how many plants and seeds she has guarded dormantly 

 for the occasion. 



That the number of rainy days in winter and the constant humidity of the climate increase 

 with the latitude, are evidenced by the character and distribution of vegetation, which has 

 already been stated ; and, if we credit all that is said, the ratio of increase is not less rapid 

 proceeding southerly than is the diminution in the direction of the tropic. Yet the testimony 

 hitherto mostly the experience of navigators during a few days, or of native travellers who 

 returned to the capital with disheartened recollections after no longer sojourn has been too 

 limited to warrant proper conclusions. Even now we have no meteorological record for any 

 portion of the country between Santiago and Valdivia, differing in latitude 383 miles ; and it 

 was not until we had left Chile that some instrumental data and carefully recorded facts 

 respecting the latter place were published in the "Anales de la Universidad." The journal 

 referred to was kept by Mr. Anwandter, and extends from April 1, 1851, to March 31, 1852. 

 It embraces tbermometric observations and notes on the direction of the wind ; the state of sky, 

 whether clear or cloudy ; and the number of days when rain fell. As there were no records 

 during the night, Dr. Philippi, to whom they were given for discussion, undertook a semi- 

 hourly series for one day to determine tlie diurnal march of the temperature, and from these 

 ascertained that a mean between observations taken at 6 A. M. and 6 p. M. exceeded the true 

 mean temperature 0.55 ; but between 6 A. M. and 7 p. M. observations, it fell short about 2. 02. 



Xaldivia, it will be remembered, is in latitude 39 49', on the north bank of the river of the 

 same name, nine or ten miles from the sea, and therefore much under its influence. 



Applying corrections in accordance with the above indications, the mean temperature of 

 winter was found to be 46. 8; the lowest at 6 A. M., 34. 3 ; the highest observed, 61. 8; and the 

 mean difference between observations at 6 A. M. and the warmest hour of the day, 5. 85. As 

 in every part of the world, the minimum heat occurs a short time before sunrise, but the maxi- 

 mum here has a different hour for each season that of winter approximating to noon. This 

 very moderate temperature is attributed partially to a predominant N.E. wind, and it is only 

 during clear nights, when radiation proceeds rapidly, that frosts occur. Gales are very rare, 

 only one having been noted in June, one in July, and two in August. After the winds from 

 N.E., those from east are most frequent, then those from west; and there were only two days 

 out of the ninety-two when it blew from south. There were 23 clear, 15 cloudy, and 54 rainy 

 days ; snow falling on three of the last, though it melted immediately in the city, and only 

 continued a few days on the Cordilleras of the coast. Hail, also, is infrequent, and rarely 

 causes injnry. 



Of Chiloe, 3 farther to the south, Padre Agiieros (Description Historial de las Provincias y 

 Archipielago de Chiloe) Chap. XI) says of the winter: "At the latter season the temperature is 



