ii8 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



CHAPTER III. 



Voyage from Callao to Valparaiso— Arica — Tocopilla — Scenery 

 of the moon — Caldera — Aspect of North ChUi — British 

 Pacific squadron — -Coquimbo — Arrival at Valparaiso — 

 Climate and vegetation of Central Chili — Railway journey 

 to Santiago — Aspect of the city — Grand position of Santiago 

 — Dr. Philippi — Excursion to Cerro St. Cristobal — Don B. 

 Vicuna Mackenna — Remarkable trees — Excursion to the 

 baths of Cauquenes — The first rains — Captive condors — 

 Return to Santiago — Glorious sunset. 



The voyage from Callao to Valf)araiso was accom- 

 plished under conditions as favourable to the comfort 

 and enjoyment of the passengers as that from Panama 

 to Callao. The Ayacucho is a larger ship than the 

 Islay, but built on a nearly similar plan, and except 

 towards the end of the voyage, when we took on 

 board a detachment of Chilian soldiers returning to 

 Valparaiso, we had no inconvenience from over- 

 crowding. I was very fully occupied in the endeavour 

 to preserve and put away in good condition the rather 

 large collections made during my stay in Peru. Not- 

 withstanding the character of the climate, I found 

 the usual difficulty felt at sea in getting my paper 

 thoroughly dry, and for several days the work was 

 unceasing. It had the effect of preventing my going 



