342 NORTHERN CHILE. [CIIAV. xvi. 



the Indians on the first arrival of the Spaniards ; Imt I have since 

 been inclined to speculate on the probability of a small change of 

 climate. 



In this northern part of Chile, within the Cordillera, old Indian 

 houses are said to be especially numerous : by digging amongst 

 the ruins, bits of woollen articles, instruments of precious metals, 

 and heads of Indian corn, are not tmfrequently discovered: an 

 arrow-head made of agate, and of precisely the same form with 

 those now used in Tierra del Fuego, was given me. I am aware 

 that the Peruvian Indians now frequently inhabit most lofty and 

 bleak situations; but at Copiapo I was assured by men who had 

 spent their lives in travelling through the Andes, that there were 

 very many (muchisimcu) buildings at heights so great as almost to 

 border on the perpetual snow, and in parts where there exist no 

 passes, and where the land produces absolutely nothing, and what 

 is still more extraordinary, where there is no water. Nevertheless 

 it is the opinion of the people of the country (although they are 

 much puzzled by the circumstance), that, from the appearance of 

 the houses, the Indians must have used them as places of residence. 

 In this valley, at Punta Gorda, the remains consisted of seven or 

 eight square little rooms, which were of a similar form with those 

 at Tambillos, but built chiefly of mud, which the present inhabi- 

 tants cannot, either here or, according to Ulloa, in Peru, imitate in 

 durability. They were situated in the most conspicuous and 

 defenceless position, at the bottom of the flat broad valley. There 

 was no water nearer than three or four leagues, and that only in 

 very small quantity, and bad : the soil was absolutely sterile ; I 

 looked in vain even for a lichen adhering to the rocks. At the 

 present day, with the advantage of beasts of burden, a mine, unless 

 it were very rich, could scarcely be worked here with profit. Yet 

 the Indians formerly chose it as a place of residence ! If at the 

 present time two or three showers of rain were to fall annually, 

 instead of one, as now is the case during as many years, a small 

 rill of water would probably be formed in this great valley ; and 

 then, by irrigation (which was formerly so well understood by the 

 Indians), the soil would easily be rendered sufficiently productive 

 to support a few families. 



I have convincing proofs that this part of the continent of South 

 America has been elevated near the coast at least from 400 to 500, 

 and in some parts from 1000 to 1300 feet, since the epoch of 





