106 VISITING CHILI. 



the nearer reseml lanee of the jlimate of Chili to 

 that of France, which rendered its vegetable pro- 

 ductions more likely to be of use there. He arrived 

 at La Conception in the beginning of 1782, where 

 his adventurous destiny had prepared for him far 

 other cares and pursuits than those of botany. The 

 town was afflicted with a pestilential fever, and he 

 was cautioned to avoid certain infected houses 

 where it raged. Instead of following this advice, 

 he devoted himself to the exercise of his medical 

 skill, and assisted the sufferers among the poorer 

 class with the most valuable charity of his advice, 

 as well as with food and with medicine, and even 

 with nurses, whom he supplied at his own charge. 

 This example did much to restore public confidence, 

 and his generous and self-denying conduct operated 

 so powerfully upon the grateful people, that they 

 strove to induce him to remain among them, pro- 

 mising him a handsome stipend as their physician. 

 It is intimated that other and more tempting attrac- 

 tions were not wanting to induce him to comply 

 with these wishes, and that one of the principal 

 dignitaries of the Church of La Conception endea- 

 voured to promote his union with a young lady of 

 great beauty and riches, on whom his merit had 

 made impressions as honourable to herself as to 

 him. From motives of mistaken patriotism he 

 tore himself away, to pursue the primary object of 



