338 



CHILI. 



habitations, but now totally deserted, and all the 

 cottages in ruins. Rich pastures, and great tracks 

 of arable land, of the finest quality, were allowed 

 to run to weeds ; without a single individual to 

 be seen, or a cow, or a sheep, or, indeed, any liv- 

 ing thing. The absence of peace and security had 

 thus in a few years reduced this fertile country to 

 a state of desolation, as complete, for all the pur- 

 poses of life, as that of the deserts on the coast of 

 Peru. 



When we came within half a league of the town 

 of Conception, we first saw the great river Biobio, 

 at that place about two miles wide, and flowing 

 past in a majestic manner. From a neighbouring 

 height could be traced the windings of this grand 

 stream for many leagues up the country, till lost 

 sight of amongst the mountains. The town of 

 Conception, even at a distance, partook, in its ap- 

 pearance, of the character of the times ; for the 

 churches were all in ruins, and the streets in such 

 decay, that we actually found ourselves in the 

 suburbs before knowing that we had reached the 

 town ; so complete had been the destruction. 

 Whole quadras, which had been burnt down and 



