ovalle's historical relation of chile. ^j 



even with the things that are put in to mend it ; all which are arguments of the great 

 fubftance and nourifhment of that land. 



CHAP . XL — Of the Effeds produced by the great Snow of the Cordillera, 



WITH the firfl rains of the winter, which are about the middle of May, the Cor- 

 dillera begins to be covered with fnow, and to put on, as it were, a white armour, 

 to hinder its being paffed, not only by men, but even by animals and birds, which are 

 fo driven out of it by the rigour of that feafon, that there is not one remaining in it. 



Even the Silguerillos, and Sorfales, birds which of their own nature are fo hot, 

 that in the very beginning of the fummer they take to the mountain, as foon as they 

 perceive that the winter draws near, come in flock$ down to avoid its rigour in the 

 mountains ; and then it is that the taking of them is eafy, and that as foon as the cold 

 pinches, the ground being almofl covered with them, it proves the feafon of moft 

 pleafure for the youth of the country, who going out, take fo many of them, either 

 with glue or nets, that they carry loads of them home, referving thofe of the finefl 

 colours to put in cages, for their harmony is very fweet. The Cordillera is fhut up 

 five or iix months in the year ; fo that till October or November, it cannot be pafled 

 without manifeft danger of one's life ; and in the midft of winter not at all, becaufe all 

 the paths and ways are covered with fnow to the height of many yards ; and if any 

 one fhould be ralh enough to attempt it, he would, after a little going, fink in every 

 where, fo that he would not be able to go a ftep forward or backward, as has hap- 

 pened to feveral, who either for fome very prefling concern and intereil, or flying from 

 a death which threatened them for their crimes, have found it in thefe defarts more cer- 

 tainly than perhaps they would have done in the prifons where they feared it. 



Thefe are buried, not in fepulchres whitened on the outfide, nor under cold marble, 

 but in the very bofom of frofl and fnow, which preferves them without being embalmed, 

 and yet keeps them as incorruptible and dry, for fo they have been found after many 

 years ; for fuch is the cold of thofe mountains, that it dries up all the moifture that 

 can caufe corruption in dead bodies, and fo preferves them. 



This fo infuperable difficulty of pafling the Cordillera, is lefs at the entrance, than 

 the end of the winter, becaufe the drifts of fnow are not then fo violent as to fhut up 

 the ways entirely ; for in thofe feafons fome do venture to pafs, though never but with 

 great danger, and upon urgent occafions ; if fometimes they are fo lucky as to get off 

 well, becaufe they meet with a clear Iky, yet at other times it cofts them dear ; and 

 it is always with infinite labour that they get through. 



I have feen others who efcaped with their fives by God*s mercy, becaufe the ftorm 

 catched them before they were too far engaged in the mountain, and fo they could yet 

 make a retreat to the low countries ; others have been forced to open their mule's bel- 

 lies that they ride on, and hide themfelves in them ; and by that warmth, and other 

 defence of clothes, they make a fhift to get over the ftorm of fnow, if it does not laft 

 long ; after which they gain the plains on foot, if they are not too far engaged, and 

 fo avoid the danger, but not the long-fufferings which follow generally after fuch 

 adventures. 



In fhort, every body has fome ftory to tell of the mountain, and complain of it ; 

 for fome lofe their toes, others their fingers ; and fome their fight ; fome are benumbed 

 and lamed, and fo remain all their life with ejreat infirmities. And I do not wonder at 



all 



