66 0VA1>LE*S HISTORICAL RELATION OF CHILE. 



arms, and at lafl drained into the fields of the neighbouring grounds, to fertilize them. 

 The profped is terminated with feveral farms, which are called Chacras, with their 

 churches ; and in the midft of all, the city of St. Jago, the capital of Chile, which 

 being not above two leagues oif, and the heavens fo ferene, the towers of it are eafily 

 diftinguiftied, and the bells heard fometimes. 



This diftrift is full of a many more fprings, all within the compafs of a mile of each 

 other ; and their waters are excellent and healthy. 



That which is to the north of the city of St. Jago, called Conchalli, is likewife highly 

 commended ; it fprings in a little valley, called the Salto, or Leap, becaufe of the fall 

 of the river Mapocho. This river comes running in a plain to a certain place ; where 

 being divided (for it is the work of induftry) into two branches, the greatefl of which 

 runs in its natural channel, the lefTer is derived to water this valley ; which towards 

 the weft is even ; but towards the eaft the land is fo high, through which the river 

 runs, that it is two or three miles from the bottom of the valley to the high grounds, 

 from whence the river falls. It is precipitated with great noife, making lovely and 

 various cafcades by the rencounter of the rocks and other obftacles, which by their 

 ftrait pafTages retard its courfe, till at laft it comes entire to the valley, and is divided 

 into cuts and channels for the watering it; which is not ungrateful, to make a more 

 than ordinary return to thofe who cultivate it, not only in corn, moft excellent wine, 

 and moft favoury fruits of all kinds, but alfo it ripens them above a month before any 

 other place thereabouts ; and it is very remarkable, that in this valley, which is only 

 half a league from the city of St. Jago, the figs ufe to be ripe in it, when in the gardens 

 of the city, and all its neighbourhood, they fcarce begin to change colour : therefore, 

 as well for this as for the game it affords, of partridges on the hills, and wild fowl in 

 the waters and ponds of it, it is the greateft entertainment all thofe parts afford. 



I fhall not dilate upon m9re of thefe fountains, which are fo frequent ; for if I were 

 to mention them all, I fhould never have done ; for fmce thofe alone of the Conception, 

 Arauco, and the country of the limits upon the warlike Indians, would require a large 

 treatife, befides thofe of the diftrid of St. Jago, what would it be then in the territories 

 of the ancient cities, which are yet farther in the country ? for it abounding extremely 

 in rivers, it is to be prefumed that it muft be fo in fountains and fprings ; all which 

 proceeds from the abundance of moifture of the Cordillera. 



Of thefe fprings, the moft agreeable for their good waters are the fartheft off from 

 the Cordillera, becaufe they are more purified by a long motion, and refined by the 

 good qualities of the earth they run through, particularly the mineral impregnations 

 are fingular : I cannot but mention one, which is in the novitiate of the company of 

 the Jefuits of Bucalemo, whofe waters are not to be matched, at leaft I never met with 

 the like ; for without drinking them, one may difcover by the touch their noblenefs, 

 their foftnefs being like that of new butter ; and they do make the hands that are 

 waffled in them in a few days fmooth, and thereby prove their vaft difference from 

 other waters. 



This fountain fprings in a little valley, very pleafant, under fome hills, about a 

 league from the fea ; and it bubbles up between a white fand, in which there is gold, 

 as if it had a fire under it to make it boil. It is wonderful to obferve, that if they 

 throw any bough or flowers upon it, it feems to take it ill, and never is at reft till it 

 has fwallowed it up, leaping up againft it feveral times, till it has made it his own, and 

 hid it from our fight ; and this it will do for a whole evening, if they continue throwing 

 flowers or branches of tre^ into it, without any body's being able to tell what becomes 

 of them all. 



The 



