50 



CHAPTER IL 



JFaterSy Earths^ Stones^ Salts^ Bitumens and 

 Metals. 



CHILI is a plane very perceptibly inclined to- 

 wards the sea, and may be considered as a prolon- 

 gation of the western base of the Andes. From 

 its situation it naturally receives the waters produc- 

 ed by the melting of that, immense body of snow 

 that annually falls upon those mountains, while 

 the provinces to the east are frequently in want of 

 water. The number of rivers, streams and springs, 

 which irrigate the country, is inconceivable. They 

 are to be found in every part, even on the tops of 

 some of the maritime mountains. 



Sect. I. Rivers. — It is difficult to determine the 

 number of rivers and streams that have their sour- 

 ces in the Andes; the principal, however, amount 

 to one hundred and twenty-three, fifty-two of which 

 communicate directly with the sea, and convey 

 thither the waters of all the others. Although, from 

 the inconsiderable breadth of the country, the course 

 of these rivers is short, there are several of them 

 that are navigable at least half their distance for 

 ships of the line. Of this number are, the Maule, 

 in the province of the same name ; the Bio-bio^ 

 which is tv/o miles in breadth ; the Cauten ; the 



