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Token ; the Valdivia, in the country of Arauco ; 

 the Chaivin ; the Riobueno, in the country of the 

 Cunches ; and tjie Sinfondo, which discharges it- 

 self into the Archipelago of Chiloe. 



The course of these rivers is extremely rapid as 

 far as the maritime mountains, where, from the 

 make of the ground, they flow more slowly. The 

 beds arc very broad, their bottoms generally ston}^, 

 and the banks low. 



This last circumstance is of great service to the 

 husbandmen, who avail themselves of it to let the 

 water into canals, from which, in times of drought, 

 they water their fields ; by this means they are never 

 in want of water, even in the dry season, as the 

 rivers are then always full, in consequence of the 

 melting of the snow on the Andes at that period.* 



From the latter part of September to February, 

 the water in these rivers is at its greatest height ; 

 their rise is, however, by no means uniform, since 

 some of them are observed to increase most in the 

 morning, others at mid day, and others towards 

 evening ; a circumstance which may probably be 

 owing to the greater or less exposure of their springs 

 to the sun. Notwithstanding these floods are copi- 



* The rivers which water and fertilize the whole country upon 

 the western side of the Andes, from whence they spring, are very 

 numerous, and discharge themselves into the Pacific Ocean. The 

 banks, covered with beautiful trees that always retain their ver- 

 dure, and the clearness and coolness of so many chrystal streams, 

 render this country, the most delightful in the world. Its thermal 

 and mineral waters likewise contribute much to the health of the 

 inhabitants. — ColeciVs Dictionary of South America; article 

 Chili. 



