280 CHILOE. 



felt over a 1000 miles, also occurred within six hours of this same 

 time. This coincidence is the more remarkable, as Coseguina had 

 been dormant for twenty-six years; and Aconcagua most rarely 

 shows any signs of action. It is difficult even to conjecture 

 whether this coincidence was accidental, or shows some subter- 

 ranean connection. If Vesuvius, Etna, and Hecla in Iceland (all 

 three relatively nearer each other than the corresponding points in 

 South America) suddenly burst forth in eruption on the same nighl, 

 the coincidence would be thought remarkable ; but it is far more 

 remarkable in this case, where the three vents fall on the same 

 great mountain-chain, and where the vast plains along the entire 

 eastern coast, and the upraised recent shells along more than 2000 

 miles on the western coast, show in how equable and connected a 

 manner the elevatory forces have acted. 



Captain Fitz Eoy being anxious that some bearings should be 

 taken on the outer coast of Chiloe, it was planned that Mr. King 

 and myself should ride to Castro, and thence across the island to 

 the Capella de Cucao, situated on the west coast. Having hired 

 horses and a guide, we set out on the morning of the 22nd. We 

 had not proceeded far, before we were joined by a woman and t\vo 

 boys, who were bent on the same journey. Every one on this road 

 acts on a " hail fellow well met " fashion ; and one may here enjoy 

 the privilege, so rare in South America, of travelling without fire- 

 arms. At first, the country consisted of a succession of hills and 

 valleys: nearer to Castro it became very level. The road itself is 

 a curious affair; it consists in its whole length, with the exception 

 of very few parts, of great logs of wood, which are either broad and 

 luid longitudinally, or narrow and placed transversely. In summer 

 the road is not very bad; but in winter, when the wood is rendered 

 slippery from rain, travelling is excetdingly difficult. At that time 

 of the year, the ground on each side becomes a morass, and is often 

 overflowed : hence it is necessary that the longitudinal logs should 

 be fastened down by transverse poles, which are pegged on each 

 side into the earth. These pegs render a fall from a horse dan- 

 gerous, as the chance of alighting on one of them is not small. It 

 is remarkable, however, how active custom has made" the Chilotan 

 horses. In crossing bad parts, where the logs had been displaced, 

 they skipped from one to the other, almost with the quickness and 

 certainty of a dog. On both hands the road is bordered by the 

 lofty forest-trees, with their bases matted together by canes. When 



