i8o NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



not, however, to be had cheaply. I was asked sixty- 

 dollars for one at Buenos Ayres, and that, I believe, 

 is about the ordinary price. 



The change of weather which culminated in this 

 wet day at Cauquenes seems to have extended along 

 the range of the Cordillera ; but, to illustrate the 

 rapid change of climate which is found in advancing 

 northward along the west side of the Andes, I may 

 mention that, while the rain continued to fall steadily 

 for ten and a half hours at Cauquenes, it lasted but 

 five hours at Santiago, about fifty miles to the north- 

 ward ; and at Santa Rosa, forty miles farther in a 

 direct line, only two hours' rain was obtained by the 

 thirsty farmers on the banks of the Aconcagua. 



On the morning of the 17th the clouds had dis- 

 appeared, and the valley was lit up with brilliant 

 sunshine. Fresh snow lay thickly on the flanks of 

 the higher mountains, and I had reason to con- 

 gratulate myself that I had not undertaken an expe- 

 dition which would have resulted in utter discomfort 

 without any adequate compensation, as the Alpine 

 vegdtation must have been completely concealed by 

 the fresh snow. The roads and paths were all deep 

 in mud, and the slopes very slippery from the rain, 

 so I decided on descending to the rocky banks of the 

 river below the baths, and, following the stream as 

 far as I conveniently could. I did not go far, but a 

 good many hours were very well occupied in examin- 

 ing the vegetation of the left bank of the Cachapoal 

 and of a little island of rock in the middle of the 

 stream. In summer one of the ordinary suspension 

 bridges of the country enables the visitors to cross to 



