QUINTERO. 33J 



muscles, dead and very offensive ; they had never been within reach 

 of the tide since the J 9th November. It was as fine a day as I ever 

 remember. 



" On the surface of the deep, 

 The winds lay only not asleep ;" 



and as thev stole through the woods of odoriferous shrubs, con- 

 veyed an almost intoxicating feeling to the sense. I cannot conceive 

 a finer climate than that of Chile, or one more delightful to inhabit ; 

 and, now I am accustomed to the trembling of the earth, even that 

 seems a less evil than I could have imagined. Old Purchas's quaint 

 description of Chile is as true as it appears singular from its antiquated 

 garb. — " The poor valley," says he, speaking of Chile, " is so ham- 

 " pered between the tyrannical meteors and elements, as that shee 

 " often quaketh with feare, and in these chill fevers shaketh off 

 " and loseth her best ornaments. Arequipa, one of her fairest 

 " townes, by such disaster in the yeere 1582, fell to the ground. 

 " And sometimes the neighbour hilles are infected with this pes- 

 " tilent fever, and tumble down as dead in the plain ; thereby 

 " so amazing the feareh.il rivers, that they runne out of their channels 

 " to seeke new, or else stand still with wonder, and the motive 

 " heate failing, fall into an uncouth tympany, their bellies swelling 

 " into spacious and standing lakes : the tides, seeing this, hold back 

 " their course, and dare not approach their sometime beloved 

 " streames by divers miles' distance, so that betwixt these two 

 " stools the ships come to ground indeed. The sicke earth thus 

 " having her mouth stopped, and her stomache overlaied, forceth 

 " new mouthes, whence she vomiteth streams of oppressing waters. 

 " I speake not of the beastes and men, which, in these civil warres 

 " of nature, must needes bee subject to devouring miserie." 



Dec. 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th. — : There have been four shocks each 

 day, accompanied by much noise ; and we have heard several ex- 

 plosions, without feeling any motion, like the noise of heavy guns at 

 sea. I have been occupied in reading San Martin's accusations of 

 Lord Cochrane, and His Lordship's reply. The accusations are as 

 frivolous as they are base ; and are exactly calculated to excite and 



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