210 HEIGHTS CHILOE. AugllSt 1829- 



mildness of its temperature, which even in the middle of winter, 

 and at the height of nearly 2,000 feet above the sea, ranged no 

 lower than 45° Fahrenheit, and during the day the maximum 

 height of the thermometer never exceeded 62°.* (A;) 



We returned to Valparaiso on the 26th of J uly, and made 

 preparations to sail ; but were detained by a strong northerly 

 gale for many days, in which we were enabled to render assis- 

 tance to a large Indian trader that would otherwise have been 

 wrecked. On the 10th of August, we sailed for Chiloe; and 

 on our way were greatly delayed by southerly winds, which 

 carried us in sight of the island of Juan Fernandez. We 

 reached our destination on the 26th, and found the Beagle, to 

 our great delight, arrived, and all well. Captain Fitz Roy 

 came on board before we anchored, and gave me an outline of 

 his proceedings, and those of the Adelaide, which had not 



* The following- are the results of the barometrical determination of 

 the heig-ht of various points on the road between Valparaiso and San- 

 tiago ; — 



Feet above the sea. 



Casa Blanca, ten leagues from Valparaiso 803 



Highest point of the road over the Cuesta de Zapata 1,977 



Inn at Curacavi 633 



Plain near Bustamente 808 



Summit of Cuesta de Prado (not certain to 200 feet) 2,949 

 Inn, or post-house, at the base of the east side of the 



Cuesta de Prado 1,804 



Santiago, by mean of numerous observations 1,821 



Miers makes the above places above the sea as follows :• — 



Feet above the sea. 



Casa Blanca 745 



Summit of Cuesta de Zapata. . 1,850 



Curacavi 1,560 



Summit of Cuesta de Prado » 2,543 



Post-house, Prado 1,773 



Santiago, mean of two observations 1,691 



Do. 



Do. 



byMalespina.... 2,463 \ ^ . ^ r2,254'i„ 

 Mercurio Chileno l,693V ll,550/^"g^^^^^- 



//cj Sharp frosts sometimes occur. — R. F. 



