294 CLIMATE. 
by the W. to 8.W.; but notwithstanding the great quantity 
of rain that falls, the evaporation is great, and it cannot there- 
fore be called unhealthy ; indeed, from experience, it is con- 
sidered quite otherwise. Agiieros, to whose excellent account 
of Childe I have so often referred, dilates much upon this 
subject, and from having resided there a considerable time, may 
be taken as the best authority. Those who now reside upon 
the island speak very much against it, and all whom I met, 
previous to my visit, condemned it, as being “ the worst in the 
world.” Perhaps we, who had lately been experiencing a much 
more disagreeable climate, went toChilde with the expectation of 
finding it exceed in severity that to which we had been accus- 
tomed in the Strait of Magalhaens, but we found ourselves 
agreeably mistaken. Our visit certainly was in the better season, 
and we had, perhaps, no right to form a decided opinion upon 
the other part of the year. I shall, therefore, first quote Agiieros, 
and then describe what we found the weather from September 
to December; yet as these months were considered by the inha- 
bitants to be finer than is usual at that season, we can only form 
a vague idea of the spring and summer. For the autumn and 
winter I must depend upon the accounts of others. 
After explaining the contra-position of the seasons, to what 
is experienced north of the equator, with regard to the months 
of the year; Agiieros says, “Childe has also its four seasons, but 
does not enjoy the benefit of those changes, as do other parts of 
Chile ; for there is neither that abundance of fruit, nor are its 
fields adorned with so many and such beautiful flowers, and 
useful medicinal plants. The summer is the best time ; for in 
the month of January, from ten o'clock in the morning till 
three in the afternoon, the heat is excessive. Between these 
hours, however, a sea-breeze, which is called ‘ Vira-zon,’ re- 
freshes the air. In the winter the temperature is very cold ; 
but the frosts are by no means so severe as in Europe. I have 
never seen ice, even in the small streams, nor does snow lie any 
length cf time on the ground. 
‘* In the winter months, as well as in other parts of the year, 
there are falls of rain, and heavy gales from N.N.W.., and west, 
