JOURNEY BY LAND. 753 



of the glacial scratches in San Vicente re- 

 minds me of a fact I have often observed in 

 New England near the sea -shore, where the 

 glacial furrows dip to a considerable extent 

 eastward toward the deep ocean, while further 

 inland their trend is more regular and due 

 North and South. ... 



" I had almost forgotten to say that I have 

 obtained unquestionable evidence of the cre- 

 taceous age of the coal deposits of Lota and 

 the adjoining localities, north and south, which 

 are generally supposed to be tertiary lignites. 

 They are overlaid by sandstone containing 

 Baculites ! I need not adduce other evidence 

 to satisfy geologists of the correctness of my 

 assertion. I have myself collected a great 

 many of these fossils, in beds resting upon 

 coal-seams. Ever truly yours, 



" Louis Agassiz." 



On the 28th of April, then, Agassiz left 

 Talcahuana, accompanied by Mrs. Agassiz, 

 and by Dr. Steindachner, who was to assist 

 him in making collections along the way. 

 They were to travel post, along the diligence 

 road, until they reached Curicu, within half a 

 day of Santiago, where railroad travel began. 

 It was a beautiful journey, and though the 



VOL. II. 23 



