A VISIT TO THE NORTHERNMOST FOREST OF CHILE. 207° 
quent near Frai Jorge, —— Eulychnia, Opuntia and a few 
Echinocactus, amongst them some very large specimens of the 
Sandillon, ‘lgsage Sandillon Ph. which attains sometimes nearly 
1m. diameter and 80 cm. height. The flora in the little ravines and 
on the Gidvee of the hills is more interesting, for it contains, paren 
already mentioned plants, “ Carbon”’ (Cordia), ‘ Palo blan 
(Fuchsia rosea R. & P.),“‘ Monte gordo” ( Vascoruckea), Sphacele Linde 
Bth., called ‘‘ Salvia,” some Proustia and Aster bre eviflorus Ph., called 
“Bscabiosa,” In the second valley we found a ae little gt 
formed of Maytenus and Duvauca estou and fart 
some distance could be distinguished the summits of eoller wena; 
the sure indication of he ptr apie in the littoral half of 
Coquimbo. Whilst the firs ie io of our ride was through com- 
ay populated land, the second half was through a desert, 
because there were only a few fina near Algarrobo, and between 
thet and = foot of Frai Jorge we passed only one hut in the 
second va 
The hanede of Frai Jorge are situated at the eastern foot of the 
granitic mountain of the same name, in a nearly broad valley, and 
are surrounded by fruit-trees of different kinds; behind the house 
is a little ‘swamp, which gives rise to a sma current of water, by 
which it is possible to have some cultivation. At the lower part of 
the swamp near the house is a cluster of Arundo Dona full grown, 
and the upper end of the swamp is full of splendid ~ saan of the 
Panguo, Gunnera chilensis Lam., with leaves mo oad, 
some reaching a diameter of nearly 2m rst tase. we "aid 
on arriving at the house was to ask for the lee of Frai Jorge, and 
we were told to look up the hill to the west; we saw its summit 
covered with dense but interrupted clouds of fog, and on the clear 
places we could well distinguish the long-searched-for forest of 
oe 
‘I s much interested to know Frai Jorge from my own exami- 
nation, hoa. I had received the most Lg ogerengienss information, 
not only about its situation,—being put by some north, by others 
South of Limari,—but also about its aap some people had ee 
me that the wood contained “ Roble”’ (Fa gus obliqua Mirb.) a 
‘‘Reuli” (Fagus procera Poepp.), both plants which do not - 
north of 38° of south latitude. 
€ next morning we looked first at the top of Frai Jorge, but 
found it decrwes4 hidden by a fog which hung far down on the slope 
of the mountain, and which lasted the whole day. Seeing that the 
Weather ae not change, we mounted on horseback, and started 
at nine o’clock. We went round the swamp behind the house, 
Which contained out of the already mentioned Gunnera the most 
common swamp plants, Scirpus, Malacochete, Cotula coronopifolia i. 
and similar things, and many Frankenias, here called « Sosa” : then 
We passed a little hill and went into the narrow valley, Las Vacas, 
€ we met with Mryngium paniculatum Lar., and as with 
slender branches and bright leaves, bearing black fruit and pale 
bluish flowers, which was called ‘‘ Uvillo” by our companions. At 
first I could not make out what it might be, but soon I recognised 
