adi. x Bb reu. S 
provinces, and though the insects do not 
buzz about here, as in the meadows and 
woods of the lower regions, many Beetles 
may be found, creeping among the stones, 
ther-worn stones, he may find Pistacite of 
the most beautiful colours, and black kinds 
of vitrified substance that have been pro- 
duced by a far more intense volcanic ac- 
tion, thousands of years ago, and which 
some unknown cause has collected at this 
oun — 
RAT 
ET E24 
D vYIUIlIILY LU LII clouds, 
this mountain is not so utterly destitute of 
or feeding on the Alpine plants. Golden 
green Cetonias, dark blue Curculios, and 
n the ai 
very difficult to be captured, live both in 
the neighbourhood of the snow, and in 
à the woody regions; and the largest of 
the Chilian Beetles may also be caught, 
especially a Lucanus, that grows to the 
h of four inches. No small Birds are 
seen here, but instead of them there are 
great numbers of Condors, which circle 
around the lonely wanderer, with such 
boldness, or such rage, probably excited 
by the vicinity of their nests, that the very 
strokes of their wings may be felt in the air 
9n his face. On my frequent ascents of 
the Pico de Pilque, I was obliged to take 
Pistols with me, to scare aw ay a couple of 
these birds, which wheeled continually 
around me when I drew near the top, and 
particularly aimed at attacking my dog, 
which courageously endeavoured to main- 
tain an unequal war. Difficult as it is to 
shoot a Condor, except by hitting it on the 
beak, I fired several times unsuccessfully 
at these gigantic birds, but at length drove 
them away, which permitted me, with my 
faithful companion, to renew the investi- 
gation of this wonderful spot. Vast and 
| uninterrupted is the view that is obtained 
from this mountain, and if the eye does not 
rest upon a country, where man mingles 
. the thousand marks of his industry with 
E oe of nature, yet is the sight far 
than what is often presented 
ACCOUNT OF ANTUCO IN THE PERUVIAN ANDES, 
303 
by South America. A hope, a persuasion 
rather, takes possession of the mind, that 
the beautiful tracts that are hence descried, 
of which the distant horizon alone bounds 
the view, will, in less than half a century, 
support an industrious population, and that 
the solemn silence of teeming nature, which 
none but the poet would desire should re- 
main unbroken, will ere long yield to the 
busy exertions of a happy population. 
Westward lie the plains that, commencing 
at the foot of the foremost Andes, stretch 
almost to the sea, and are only traversed by 
low mountains, and watered by the Biobio, 
the Laxa, and Duquero, streams which en- 
sure numerous advantages to the future 
inhabitants of these regions, and are well 
spectator rise the mountains, clothed with 
luxuriant forests, down whose every side 
trickle numerous rivulets which fertilize 
the vallies, and render artificial irrigation 
unnecessary. The eye rests on the only 
inhabited spot, the little village of Antuco, 
whose dwellings look like the work of 
children’s hands, and is nearly lost in the 
valley. Northward are the gigantic moun- 
tains of the Cordillera of Chillon. Widely 
and 
deceptively near, appears the broad ‘Slack 
volcano, which terminates the prospect 
Dense pillars of smoke burst from iti 
mouth, and its loud peals of thunder seem 
as if they would even threaten its very sta- 
bility. Thus is every thing united that can 
render the prospect attractive and pleasing, 
grand and awful. Every fresh visit ren- 
ders the Naturalist more reluctant to quit 
this fascinating scene, and to mingle again 
with every-day life and its bustling con- 
cerns, while the solitary hours that he has 
passed here abundantly reward those in- 
conveniences, and privations, and fatigues 
to which he is eminently exposed, and 
linger on his recollection, with an almost 
sacred tenacity, long after the ocean has 
reconveyed him to his native and far dis- 
tant country. 
