128 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



arises from the fact that the trials have been made 

 too near the shore, within reach of the infiltration of 

 sea- water, or that all the water traversing the region 

 inland becomes impregnated with saltpetre, I am 

 unable to decide ; but it seems probable that careful 

 examination of the water, some of which undoubtedly 

 finds its way underground from the Cordillera to the 

 Pacific coast, might add considerably to the resources 

 of the country. The cost of conveying v/ater direct 

 from the mountains to certain points in the interior, 

 and thence to the coast, would possibly be repaid by 

 the saving in fuel now used for the distillation of sea- 

 water, to say nothing of the probability that some 

 portions of the surface would become available for 

 cultivation. The experience of the Isthmus of Suez, 

 where a constantly increasing area near the course of 

 the freshwater canal has become productive, should, I 

 think, encourage the attempt. 



About midday we reached Tocopilla, another place 

 of recent creation, consisting of a large establishment 

 with several chimneys and the usual group of sheds 

 for the workmen. Steep rocky slopes rise close 

 behind, and it seemed possible to see something of 

 the conditions of life on this part of the coast without 

 going beyond sight and hearing of the steamer. 

 Being told that our stay was to be short, but that the 

 steam-whistle would be sounded a first time exactly a 

 quarter of an hour before our departure, I shouldered 

 my tin vasculum and went ashore. Passing the houses, 

 I at once steered for the rocky slopes behind. Here 

 at last I found what I had often heard of, but in whose 

 existence I had almost ceased to believe — a land 



