^6 ovalle's historical relation of chile. 



keep them alive ; but no fooner were they come to the valley of Aconcagua, which is- 

 the tirft valley coming down from the mountains, but they all died, not fo much as 

 one remaining alive. 



I do not fay any thing here of the mines of gold, nor of thofe excellent v/aters 

 which running from them, are cordial and healthy ; nor of the abundance of provifions 

 for life, nor of the phyfical plants, nor of many other rare qualities in which this 

 country exceeds others, as well to avoid confufion, as becaufe thofe things will be 

 better fhewed when we come to treat of each of them in particular in their proper 

 place* 



In all other things the land of Chile is fo like Europe, both in climate and foil,, that 

 there is very fmall or no diiference ; and it is very remarkable, that in fuch variety of 

 difcoveries made in America, none is fo conformable in every thing with the European 

 conftitution, as this tradt of Chile ; for in moft of the places between the tropicks, as 

 Brafii, Cartagena, Panama, Portobello, and thofe coafts in that fituation, the heats are 

 violent, and continual all the year ; and in fome other places, fuch as Potofi, and th« 

 mountains of Peru, the cold is as exceffive ; in fome they have a winter without rain, 

 and have their rain in fummer, when their heat is higheft ; others there are, where 

 they have neither wine, oil, nor wheat of their own produdt ; and though in fome 

 they may have thefe productions, yet the other fruits of Europe do not take with 

 them ; but Chile has, ju(l as Europe, its four feafons, of fpring, fummer, autumn, and 

 winter ; it does not rain in fummer, but in winter ; and all the produd of Europe agrees 

 with their foil. 



One thing is much to be admired, and that is, that the land of Cuyo, that of Tu- 

 cuman, and Buenos Ayres, being all in the fame latitude with Chile, are neverthelefs 

 fo different in climate from it and from Europe ; for though in thofe parts it freezes 

 exceedingly, fo as to freeze water within doors, and that their cattle, if left abroad,^ 

 die with cold, yet there does not fall a drop of rain all the winter, and the fun Ihines 

 out fo bright and clear, that not a cloud is to be feen : but in the fpring they have fuch 

 abundance of rain, that it would drown the whole country, if the fliowers lafled as 

 long as in Europe or in Chile ; for when the rain lafts but an hour and a half, the 

 ftreets are full of ftreams in the towns, and the carts are up to their axle-trees, though 

 they are very high in thofe parts, and all the country is as it were a fea : there fall 

 likewife at that time thunder-ftones, and hail as big as a hen's egg, nay, as geefe eggs, 

 and fometimes as big as oftriches ; as I myfelf have feen. 



All thefe ftorms and varieties of weather form themfelves in the high mountains, that 

 are a kind of wall to the kingdom of Chile ; and they never come fo far down as to 

 invade its territories, but Hop at them like a barricado 5 for in Chile the weather is 

 always fteady and conftant, without fudden changes, all the fpring, fummer, and 

 autumn ; in winter, indeed, there are degrees of heat and cold, as there is a differ- 

 ence in the length and fhortnefs of the days, according to the degrees of the latitude, 

 and courfe of the fun, which caufes the fame variation as in Europe, though in oppo- 

 fite months. 



From hence it follows, as authors do obferve, and experience teaches, that there 

 jnuft be, and is, a great refemblance between the animals and other produdions of 

 Chile and thofe of Europe. As a proof of this, I have feen feveral gentlemen that 

 came to Chile from other parts of America, either as commanders, or for other em- 

 ployments, which are in the king^s difpofal, incredibly overjoyed at this conformity with 

 Europe ; for they think themfelves, as it were, in their native country, the air and the 

 provifions of both fo like in their qualities : the meats are more nourifhing than in hot-> 



teir 



