INTRODUCTION. XXXV 



FrezieV,* an experienced French engineer and mathematician in the service of Louis XI \ 

 arrived at Valparaiso early in September, 1712, and remained there until May of the following 

 year, surreptitiously making a visit to the capital during that time. He tells us, in several places, 

 of want of rain during eight months of the year, and of the destruction of vegetation because 

 of it, but otherwise is not more specific ; and Abbe Molina, who was not less distinguished in 

 the order (of Jesuits) to which he belonged, for literary attainments and knowledge of natural 

 history, has minutely describedf each climatic element, though without leaving data likely to 

 elucidate more satisfactorily the question of change. The latter was a native of the country, 

 and was fully competent to speak definitively ; indeed, from the well known studious habits and 

 acknowledged intelligence of the members of the society, it is remarkable that he has given 

 us no instrumental results. 



At the date of his work, (1787,) during the months of April to August, inclusive, in the 

 central provinces rain usually fell for three or four days in succession, and was followed by fif- 

 teen to twenty days of pleasant weather. Although the temperature of the air during rain- 

 storms was always higher than the mean for the season, and the winds were invariably in the 

 opposite direction to the ordinary atmospheric current, they were never accompanied by electri- 

 cal phenomena or strong gales on the plain, though both were evident on the lofty Andean 

 ranges. Then, as it does now, the southwest wind predominated. Then, he says, it never con- 

 tinued blowing with the same force all day, but as the sun approached the meridian the strength 

 of the wind considerably decreased, freshening up again as the former declined. At noon, it 

 frequently gave place to a quick breeze from the sea, which lasted for two or three hours, and 

 was so regular as to be called " el vienticillo, " or " reloj de las gentes del campo," (the little 

 wind, or countryman's clock,) because it served farmers to know their dinner hour. Although 

 the sky might be perfectly clear in that direction, if the wind shifted to the north of west, then, 

 as now, so certain was change, that it gave rise to the proverbial distich 



" Norte claro, sur oscuro 

 Aguacero scguro. " 



(When clear to north, with south obscure, 

 Of long rain-showers one may be sure.) 



Whilst the increase of cultivated and shaded surface in the central provinces is believed to 

 have greatly augmented the annual number of cloudy and rainy days there,! Captain King, as 

 has already been quoted, and Dr. Philippi,|| were assured by old residents, that Concepcion and 

 Chiloe were certainly becoming drier with the progress of cutting down the forests. The effects 

 in each case being philosophically inferrible from the assigned cause, in the absence of more 

 specific information, we are bound to credit popular belief. 



Though written more particularly for the general reader, perhaps meteorologists may also 

 be interested in Chapter 3, volume 1, where the present climate of Chile is treated of at length. 



Relation du voyage de hi mer du sud aux cotes du Chily et du Perou: Paris, 1716. 

 " f Saggio della Storia del Chile. Bologna. 



A friend writing to me from Santiago, under date November 13, 1855, says: "Up to this time we have rarely had 

 a sunshiny day, and at daylight, almost every morning, there is a drizzling rain. Moreover, we have thunder-itorma in 

 the afternoon, just as they do at Mendoza." 



Surveying voyage of H. M. S. Adventure and Beagle, volume 1: London. 



| Annies de la Universidad, Muxzo, 1851. 



