378 A VISIT TO THE SOUTHWARD. 



its northern extremity is the old and unenclosed cemetery of Constitucion, for whose tenants the 

 ocean, full 500 feet "below, beats an eternal requiem against its vertical face. Though more 

 broken by ravines the northern shore continues of nearly the same height, and is quite as 

 densely covered with trees as far as the flat sand-spit at the mouth of the river. Here the 

 beach is not above half a mile wide, but it stretches away to the northward for six or seven 

 leagues, with more than twice that average breadth probably the most extensive flat boundary 

 to the Pacific in all Chile. Below the island the river again narrows rapidly, and in less than 

 a mile has so diminished that its width', at low water, is less than three hundred yards, between 

 the extremity of Cerro Mutiin (the hill referred to) and the sandy point that terminates the 

 northern shore. Seaward from Cerro Mutiin, but quite close to it, are two high pyramidal 

 masses of rock, named Las Ventanas and Piedra Lobos; from the former having apertures 

 through it like windows, and the latter being resorted to by large numbers of seals (lobos). 

 Half a mile to the southward another somewhat similar elevation, the most imposing from its 

 size and gothic outlines, is known as La Iglesia (the church), a door in keeping with its natural 

 architecture contributing no little to the resemblance. All these rocks are frequented by 

 flocks of penguins, gulls, and other sea-fowl. 



Just beyond the "Piedra Lobos" a bar is formed, where the current of the river and the 

 impulsive force of the waves neutralize each other, and deposite the sands each had previously 

 carried along. This forms a line on which the waters break, extending in a northeasterly 

 direction, and varying in magnitude with the strength of the wind and set of the sea. Of 

 course, as the same agent gives varying momentum to the volume of sea water, the bar and its 

 channel are constantly changing, and they rarely remain in the same place through an entire 

 winter. As will be seen from the map, vessels drawing more than 15 feet water can never 

 enter; and even those of 300 to 350 tons are almost always delayed some days, waiting 

 a smooth time. The difficulty they experience arises from the fact that the prevailing south- 

 erly wind is lost on approaching the Piedra Lobos, where they encounter the current of the 

 river at the moment of losirig their headway, and thus are thrown on the northern spit of 

 the bar. In such a case, unless the wind at the time be very light, the sea in consequence 

 smooth, and relief soon come from- the town, the vessel is almost certain to become a total loss. 

 So secure is the anchorage when once attained, and so important is the port becoming from the 

 annually increasing produce sent to it from the interior, that government has been repeatedly 

 and earnestly urged to apply some remedy. To this end two propositions have been presented 

 one of which, coming from a commission of the government, is somewhat remarkable. They 

 propose no less than to empty the whole of the river Lontue into the Claro by means of a canal, 

 and, by the increased volume of water given to the Maule, to drive the bar farther out to sea. But 

 they evidently forgot that an increased amount of detritus would inevitably be brought with the 

 water; and the equally certain consequence, that the first freshet occurring at high tide would 

 wash out the amphitheatral basin, and leave it as bare of human habitations as when nature 

 desisted from her tasks here about. During floods, even with the Maule alone, if the tide rise 

 more than its usual height of five to six feet, the people of the town are not unfrequently in 

 trepidation for their property. The other proposition seems much more rational. It is, to 

 build a sea-wall between the Ventanas and Piedra Lobos, of which they would form a part. 

 By using the admirably suited rock of which they are composed, they would be cut down so as 

 not to impede the winds greatly ; and at the same time the sweep of the sea between them would 

 be interrupted. Once clearly within the bar, and under the action of the river current only, 

 and there is no danger. The proposition is certainly practicable, and would not be attended with 

 very great expense. Meantime a good steam-tug would find ample employment and recom- 

 pense; as would also one of lighter draft for the navigation of the river. A little while ago 

 government gave an exclusive privilege to use steam tow-boats on the river, and it is understood 

 that a vessel was constructed in the United States for this purpose ;" but she was lost on the way 

 out, and the period within which the privilege might take effect has expired. 



