12 



COAST OF CHILE. 



develope itself, generally several crooked, very seldom erect and straight stems. 

 It is commonly used as fuel. The Caven is said to attain, further inland, a consi- 

 derable height.* Another shrub characteristic of the district is a species of 



Cassia, which about this time bears fine dark yellow blossoms ^13 L^. But the 



chief feature in the physiognomy is the large candelabra-like C evens Peruvianus, 

 growing isolated on the edge of the slopes, and everywhere in the neighbour- 

 hood of rocks (5 d), and also the curious Pourretia coarctata, a plant about 

 which Molina has much to tell, and which is probably abundant throughout Chile 



^12 The thick woody scape, with its large spikes formed by rectangularly 



disposed branchlets, about this time bearing roundish woody fruits, is best seen 

 on the edge of the slope (4 d). The smaller isolated growing plants are different 

 kinds of Composite (9 f — 10 f, &c), plainly showing the gradual transition to 

 shrubbiness ; they have done flowering, and are scattering their feathery pappus 

 in every direction : when in full bloom, their numerous flowers must present a 

 fine sight. As an instance of the various truly shrubby Compositce peculiar to 

 this district, must be regarded those creeping bushes which seem to be mere 

 balls of thick foliage. Their branches and leaves are very resinous, and one has 

 only to set a match to them in order to kindle a vivid and well-fed fire. The 

 most curious amongst the plants in the foreground is the indigenous bamboo, 

 which certainly does not bear a strong resemblance to the Indian Bambusa 

 arundmacea, and probably belongs to a genus but recently instituted (14 o). 

 Always growing gregariously, and having high, arched trunks, it often forms, on 



* In the narrative of the "Voyage of H.M.S. 

 Herald," vol. i. p. 39, I have given the following 

 sketch of the neighbourhood of Valparaiso, as it 

 appeared in 1845, about eighteen years after our 

 author's visit: — "The hills near the sea are par- 

 tially clad with scanty brushwood and still scantier 

 herbage ; after passing them, the eye perceives an 

 extensive open country. The Espino (Acacia Ca- 

 venia, Hook, et Arn.) abounds on these plains, and 

 would, if attended with care, be of vast service in 

 reclaiming the waste, by attracting moisture and 

 affording a supply of fuel. It has been of the 

 greatest use to miners, and also for household pur- 

 poses. Notwithstanding its being cut in the most 

 injudicious manner, it still grows again ; but of late 

 this unwise system has been pursued to such an 

 extent, that it has in many places destroyed the 

 growth altogether. The utility and importance of 

 such a wood as the Espino, in a country where 



much fuel is required, where there is hardly any 

 other moisture than that produced by artificial ir- 

 rigation, and where land carriage must continue 

 for many years both expensive and laborious, the 

 wide-spread distress that must accrue from the in- 

 judicious neglect of the bounties of Nature, will be 

 apparent to the most casual observer. There is no 

 doubt that the aridity of the plain has been per- 

 petuated and increased by neglecting common pre- 

 cautions with regard to this shrub. The Espino is 

 brought into Valparaiso in a highly charred con- 

 dition ; it is very hard, gives much heat, and its 

 ashes are sufficiently alkaline for the manufacture 

 of soap. The stoves and warming-pans over which 

 the Chilenian ladies are very fond of putting their 

 feet during the cold weather, are supplied by the 

 small bundles of charred Espino so often seen for 

 sale in Valparaiso." — Berthold Seemann. 



