42 



water. Its heat is probably owing to the effer- 

 Ycscence of a large body of pyrites in the vicinity 

 of its source. The water of the cold spring is 

 iron and vitriolic^ and, when mixed with that of 

 the warm^ deposits Glauber's salt and a yellowish 

 ochre. 



The baths of Cauquenes are in one of the 

 valleys of the Cordilleras, near the source of 

 Caciapoal, a very considerable river. As the 

 situation is very pleasant, great numbers of per- 

 sons resort there during the summer, as well for 

 amusement as for the recovery of health. 



The springs are numerous and of various 

 qualities and temperatures. Some of them are 

 cold, others hot; some acidulated, and impreg- 

 nated in a greater or less degree with iron ; 

 while others are alkalescent or vitriolic, and 

 several, like those of Pisa, are merely gaseous. 

 The principal spring is very warm and sulphuric ; 

 its margin is covered with a yellow efflorescence 

 of sulphur, and the water has a strong hepatic 

 smell ; it contains besides an alkali and a neutral 

 salt. The surrounding mountains abound with 

 every kind of mineral, and near the spring are 

 great numbers of willows, which are covered 

 with a species of manna, in globules of the size 

 of grains of gun-powder. 



Three mineral springs, adjoining the high 

 road to Cujo, afford a neutral salt, with a cal- 

 careous base, of a sharp and bitter taste, and 



