54 ovalle's historical relation op chile. 



About thirty-three and a half, follows the famous river Maypo, which I cannot tell 

 whether it be more famous for its good qualities, or for the danger and difficulty of 

 paffing it ; many have been drowned in it, and every day mifcarrying by it. It is of 

 ib rapid a current, and fometimes fwells fo high, that no bridge can refift its fury, but 

 it is carried away by it ; for which reafon, at this day it has no other but one of many 

 cables joined together, and lying a-crofs from one fide to the other. Its waters are 

 ordinarily thick ; and it enters the fea with fo much force, that it makes its way in it 

 diftind for a good while ; its waters are perfedly known from thofe of the fea by a 

 circle they make : they are befides very cold, and yet it quenches thirft but ill, for it is 

 brackifh, which makes the flelh of the fheep which feed near it, to be excellent in tafte. 

 There are filhed here alfo moft excellent fifh, particularly trouts, efteemed all over the 

 country. 



There falls into this river, among others, that of St. Jago, otherwife called the river 

 of Mapocho, which is divided into feveral llreams, to water the diftridt of that city j 

 and it does it fometimes more than we could wiih, when it overflows. Not far from 

 the city, it hides itfelf under-ground, leaving a bridge of two or three leagues over it, 

 while it maintains a filent courfe underneath ; at the end of this fpace it comes out in 

 bubbles among a grove of cherry trees, with its waters as clear and purified as chryftal ; 

 fo that though it feems to hide itfelf, and die, it is only to fpring up again more 

 beautiful and ftately, being of a flronger current, before it is again fpread and diffufed 

 to fertilize the fields. At this place of its fecond birth, there ftands an ancient and 

 illuftrious convent of St. Francis, which, becaufe it is within fight of a vaft foreft of 

 trees, is called St. Francis of the Mountain, in which there have been, from time to 

 time, moft holy men of the firft founders in that province, and who imploy themfelves 

 in the worfhip of God, and help of their neighbours, with great zeal and reputation 

 of their order. 



The river of Poangue, which falls likewife Into Maypo, runs alfo many leagues 

 under-ground : this cannot rife with more advantages than at its firft fountain ; for 

 its waters are, at the very fource, fo clear, delicate and fweet, that they cannot be 

 mended ; it has not its original like all the reft, from fnow-water, but from minerals 

 of gold, through whofe veins it makes its way, as if it had an aquedud of that precious 

 metal : its courfe is bordered on each fide ^ith moft beautiful trees, which contribute 

 to make its waters wholefome : they are indeed of themfelves a remedy ; for they help 

 digeftion fo vifibly, that if any one has exceeded and eat more than his ftomach can 

 well embrace, one draught of this water will relieve him, fo that he ftiall be hungry 

 again in a little time. Neither is it ufelefs under-ground ; for while it is there, it 

 communicates itfelf to the whole valley by fubterranean conduits: the effed of which 

 is vifible ; for though in the fummer it does not rain a drop, and the valley has no 

 other watering, yet it brings as feafonable a crop, and as reliftiing fruit, as any other 

 that has the help of rain and other irrigations ; neither have I feen any where larger or 

 more delicious melons, nor more abounding and well-grown maize, than in this 

 valley. 



There are two other rivers which fall into Maypo, which are called De Colina and 

 Lampa ; which, uniting together about ten or twelve leagues from their firft rife, make 

 the famous lake of Cudaguel fo profound and deep, that great ftiips might fwim in it : 

 this lake is about two leagues long, all bordered with delicate willow trees, and other 

 greens, which keep their freftinefs and greennefs all the year round j and, that nothing 

 may be wanting to its agreeablenefs, it is full of excellent trouts and Vagres, which 



o fometimes 



