52 



ovalle's historical relation of chile. 



of treafure to be thrown into it, when he faw that he could not redeem himfelf, nor 

 fave his life by them ; though it feems hard to beheve they fhould go fo far to do 

 a thing they might have executed much nearer home. The waters of this lake have 

 no iifue, being environed on all fides with very high rocks, and therefore it is thought 

 that it comes under-ground to thofe fountains called the Ojos de Aqua, and empties 

 itfelf by them. 



I cannot pafs over in filence another fountain which is at the foot of the Cordil- 

 lera, on the other fide towards Cuyo. There is a river called the Rio de Mendoca, 

 which comes down from the eaft, not inferior to that of Aconcaqua in Chile, which 

 runs to the weft into the South Sea. Into thefe two rivers are emptied moft of the 

 little ftreams of the mountain ; that of Mendoca meeting in its way with a chalky 

 mountain, bores it quite through, and leaves a bridge broad enough for three or four 

 carts to pafs a-breaft. Under this bridge is a great table of rock, over which run five dif- 

 ferent ftreams of water, proceeding from fo many fountains ; which water is extremely 

 hot and very good for many diftempers. The ftones over which it runs are of a green 

 like emerald. The vault of this bridge furpafles in beauty all that human heart can 

 produce ; for there hang down from it feveral ificles, in fhape of flowers, and pen- 

 dants of ftone like fait ; for the humidity which penetrates from above, makes it con- 

 geal like points of diamonds, and other figures, which adorn this vault ; through which 

 there falls perpetually a quantity of great drops, as big as peafe fome, and others as big as 

 yolks of eggs ; which, falling upon the ftone table I have mentioned, are turned into 

 ftones of feveral fhapes and colours, of no fmall value. 



There is another bridge on the other fide, called the Inga's Bridge, either becaufe he 

 caufed it to be builtj or becaufe (as is moft probable) his generals were the firft dif- 

 coverers of it, and palTed over it ; for it is not pofiible that any human art could make 

 fo bold an attempt as has been brought to pafs by the Author of nature in this place. 

 This bridge is formed by a moft prodigious high rock, which is cloven in two, as 

 if it had been fawed down, only covered on the top ; it is hollow to the very river, 

 which is large and rapid, and yet the noife of it is no more heard on the top, than 

 if.it were a little brook; which is a ftrong argument of the great diftance there is 

 between the top and bottom of the mountain ; for the opening not being above eight 

 feet over, it being eafy to leap from one fide to the other, it would be thought, that 

 a great river being fo ftraightened as to go through it, ftiould make a very great noife 

 in palling fuch a ftraight place with fo much force ; and if the noife does not reach 

 the ear, it is becaufe of the great diftance. I myfelf have gone to the fide of this 

 bridge, and looked down, (though with great horror, for it ftrikes a ftiivering into 

 one, to contemplate fuch a depth, than which I have not feen a more terrible one ;) 

 I not only did not hear any noife, but that great river appeared a little brook, hardly 

 to be difcerned. 



Thefe are the entertainments for the eye in pafling this part of the Cordillera. As 

 for the many others which may be met with in fo vaft an extent, who can relate them ? 

 I believe there are thofe who know much more than what I have here defcribed, 

 which is only what I have feen ; but from fo little it is eafy to infer more ; for if only 

 the rife of two rivers have afforded fuch matter of admiration, what may not be pro- 

 duced in the birth and courfe of fo many others, as we fliall defcribe in the fol- 

 lowing chapter? 



CHAP, 



