310 CHARLES DARWIN 



six hours of this same time. This coincidence is the more 

 remarkable, as Coseguina had been dormant for twenty-six 

 years ; and Aconcagua most rarely shows any signs of action. 

 It is difficult even to conjecture whether this coincidence was 

 accidental, or shows some subterranean connection. If Vesu- 

 vius, Etna, and Hecla in Iceland (all three relatively nearer 

 each other than the corresponding points in South America), 

 suddenly burst forth in eruption on the same night, the coin- 

 cidence would be thought remarkable; but it is far more re- 

 markable in this case, where the three vents fall on the same 

 great mountain-chain, and where the vast plains along the 

 entire eastern coast, and the upraised recent shells along 

 more than 2000 miles on the western coast, show in how 

 equable and connected a manner the elevatory forces have 

 acted. 



Captain Fitz Roy being anxious that some bearings should 

 be taken on the outer coast of Chiloe, it was planned that 

 Mr. King and myself should ride to Castro, and thence across 

 the island to the Capella de Cucao, situated on the west 

 coast. Having hired horses and a guide, we set out on 

 the morning of the 22nd. We had not proceeded far, before 

 we were joined by a woman and two boys, who were bent on 

 the same journey. Every one on this road acts on a " hail 

 fellow well met " fashion; and one may here enjoy the privi- 

 lege, so rare in South America, of travelling without fire- 

 arms. At first, the country consisted of a succession of hills 

 and valleys : nearer to Castro it became very level. The road 

 itself is a curious affair; it consists in its whole length, with 

 the exception of very few parts, of great logs of wood, which 

 are either broad and laid longitudinally, or narrow and placed 

 transversely. In summer the road is not very bad; but in 

 winter, when the wood is rendered slippery from rain, trav- 

 elling is exceedingly difficult. At that time of the year, the 

 ground on each side becomes a morass, and is often over- 

 flowed: hence it is necessary that the longitudinal logs 

 should be fastened down by tranverse poles, which are 

 pegged on each side into the earth. These pegs render a fall 

 from a horse dangerous, as the chance of alighting on one of 

 them is not small. It is remarkable, however, how active 

 custom has made the Chilotan horses. In crossing bad parts, 



