24 



until April. During this century they have ap- 

 peared at four different times, but I cannot de- 

 signate their particular periods. This pheno- 

 menon is more frequently visible in the Archi- 

 pelago of Chiloe, from the greater elevation of 

 the pole in that part of the country. 



Sect. VIII. Volcanoes. That a country pro- 

 ducing such an abundance of sulphureous, 

 nitrous, and bituminous substances, should be 

 subject to volcanic eruptions, is not to be won- 

 dered at. The numerous volcanoes in the Cor- 

 dilleras would, of themselves, furnish a sufficient 

 proof of the quantity of these combustible ma- 

 ierials. There are said to be fourteen, which 

 are in a constant state of eruption, and a still 

 greater number that discharge smoke only at in- 

 tervals. These are all situated in that pari of 

 the Andes appertaining to Chili, and nearly in 

 the middle of that range of mountains ; so that 

 the lava and ashes thrown out by them never ex- 

 tend beyond their limits. TIicsc mountains and 

 their vicinities are found, on examination, to con- 

 tain great quaiititirs of sulphur and sal-ammoniac, 

 niarcasite in an entire and decomposed state, cal- 

 cined and crvstallizcd stones, and various me- 

 tallic substances. 



The preatcst eruption ever known in Chili was 

 that of Petcroa, which happened on the 3d of 

 December. 1760. when that volcano formed 



