ob 



From the latter part of September to Febru- 

 ary, the water in these rivers is at its greatest 

 height ; their rise is, however, by no means uni- 

 form, since some of them are observed to increase 

 most in the morning, others at mid-day, and 

 others towards evening ; a circumstance which 

 may probably be owing lo the greater or less 

 exposure of their springs to the sun. Notwith- 

 standing these floods are copious, they never in- 

 undate the adjacent plains, from the beds of the 

 rivers being, as I have already observed, very 

 broad. Though many of these streams appear 

 to be shallow, frequent instances have occurred 

 of persons being drowned who have attempted to 

 ford them on horseback. The common opinion 

 that snow-water produces goitres, appears to bo 

 *unfounded, if we may be allowed to form a judg- 

 ment from that of these rivers. Their waters 



v'orld. Its thermal and mineral waters likewise contribute 

 much to the health of the inhabitants. Co/e/i'* Dictionary 

 cj South America ; article Chili. 



* There is a passage in the Coroneca del Orden de S.Augustin 

 en el Peru, by M. F.Antonio de Calancha, which mentions goi- 

 tres as common among some of the Peruvian mountaineers. 

 I made no reference to this fact, not supposing that I should 

 ever want to refer to it ; the book has no other Index tlian 

 an absurd one of all the texts of scripture which it quotes ; 

 and I want leisure, as well as inclination, again to examine a 

 volume containing more than .900 large and full folio pnges^ 

 Vvitli about two lies to every page. . E. 



