XIV 



CHILOE 



313 



suddenly burst forth in eruption on the same night, the 

 coincidence would be thought remarkable ; but it is far more 

 remarkable in this case, where the three vents fall on the same 

 great mountain -chain, and where the vast plains along the 

 entire eastern coast, and the upraised recent shells along more 

 than 2000 miles on the western coast, show in how equable 

 and connected a manner the elevatory forces have acted. 



Captain Fitz Roy being anxious that some bearings should 

 be taken on the outer coast of Chiloe, it was planned that 

 Mr. King and myself should ride to Castro, and thence across 



INSIDE ISLAND OF CHILOE. 



SAN CARLOS. 



the island to the Capella de Cucao, situated on the west coast. 

 Having hired horses and a guide, we set out on the morning 

 of the 22 nd. We had not proceeded far, before we were 

 joined by a woman and two boys, who were bent on the same 

 journey. Every one on this road acts on a " hail-fellow-well- 

 met fashion ; " and one may here enjoy the privilege, so rare 

 in South America, of travelling without firearms. At first 

 the country consisted of a succession of hills and valleys : 

 nearer to Castro it became very level. The road itself is a 

 curious affair ; it consists in its whole length, with the exception 

 of very few parts, of great logs of wood, which are either broad 

 and laid longitudinally, or narrow and placed transversely. In 

 summer the road is not very bad : but in winter, when the 

 wood is rendered slippery from rain, travelling is exceedingly 



