132 



THE RIVER MAULE. 



[1824. 



January \§th. — On Wednesday, the 19th, at eleven, A. M., we cast 

 anchor in the river Maule, about one mile within its mouth, in three 

 fathoms of water, muddy bottom, sheltered from all winds. This 

 river rises among the mountains of the Andes, and runs nearly a west- 

 erly course until it empties into the Pacific, in lat. 34° 50' S., long. 

 72° 18' W. 



At the mouth of this river there is a bar, covered by thirteen feet 

 of water in spring tides ; the channel is also narrow, as a cable would 

 reach across it ; but immediately within the bar, the breadth of which 

 is not over half a cable's length, there is four fathoms of water, and 

 the same depth continues nearly two miles up the river. Vessels on 

 this coast which require to be overhauled and repaired will find this 

 port very convenient for that purpose ; as there is a fine ship-yard 

 here, where many small vessels are built, and some even of three 

 hundred tons. Here is every facility for heaving-out vessels under 

 two hundred and fifty tons, in order to search for leaks, and make any 

 repairs that may be found necessary. 



The entrance to the river Maule is easily distinguished by a remark- 

 able monument, which nature has erected, about one hundred yards 

 from the shore, and about seventy-five yards south of the channel. 

 This is a mass of white marble, or of some species of rock which 

 has that appearance, rising about seventy-five feet above the level of 

 the sea. When seen from the offing, it bears so striking a resemblance 

 to a stone church, that it has acquired the appellation of " Church Rock" 

 and is so named on the charts. This rock is about two hundred and fifty 

 feet in length, from east to west, and about seventy-five feet in width. 

 The interior of its base is a spacious vault, into which the sea flows 

 through three arches at its western end. Hair-seals find this recess 

 a very convenient retreat from the ocean, in which they are not ex- 

 posed to their enemy, man. The roof of this edifice is also peopled 

 with living creatures ; it being the resort of a species of white sea- 

 fowl, which resembles the dove in shape. Thus bountiful nature not 

 only feeds and clothes the humblest of her offspring, but also erects 

 marble palaces for their accommodation. " Church Rock" is certainly 

 a great natural curiosity. 



On the south side of this river, about two miles from its entrance, 

 stands the town of Chanco ; and on the opposite shore there is another 

 called Artillero. About sixty miles farther up the river is the cele- 

 brated ancient town of Talca. 



These places are all small ; as Chanco, the largest of the three, 

 only contains about fifteen hundred inhabitants ; who are a very indus- 

 trious people, building ships, and cultivating their plantations ; the lat- 

 ter being in many instances very handsomely arranged, particularly 

 those which lie on the banks of the river. Among their productions 

 I have noticed wheat, maize, pease, pineapples, oranges, lemons, 

 citrons, apples, pears, peaches, quinces, melons, and strawberries, all 

 of the largest size and best quality. Among the animals which 

 abound in this neighbourhood are black-cattle, sheep, and hogs, which 

 can be procured at a very reasonable price. Poultry of every kind 

 is cheap here ; while teals and wild ducks maybe shot in any quantity, 



