33 



which empties itself into the Patagonian Sea, near 

 the straits of Magellan. Within the Andes are 

 also many lakes, but they are of little importance» 



Sect. III. Mineral Waters. —K country like 

 Chili, abounding in mineral and bituminous sub- 

 stances, must necessarily produce a great number of 

 mineral springs, the virtues of whose waters must 

 have become known to the inhabitants. Gaseous 

 and acidulated waters are common in all the provin- 

 ces, particularly in the vallies at the foot of the 

 Andes. Some springs are vitriolic and impreg* 

 nated with iron, others sulphuric or muriatic; their 

 temperature is in general that of the atmosphere ; 

 but there are some that are cold in summer, a qual- 

 ity probably derived from their sources being in 

 the vicinity of mines or springs of salt. But as I 

 have never carefully analyzed these waters, I am 

 not able to give accurate information respecting 

 them. 



The provinces of Copiapo and Coquimbo are rich 

 in salt springs. In the former, there is a river called 

 from its saltness Salado^ which, like the other large 

 rivers^ has its source in the Andes, and falls into the 

 Pacific Ocean. The water of this river is very clear 

 and extremely salt ; and its specific gra.vity is, ac- 

 cording to the season of the year, from fifteen to 

 eighteen degrees. 



The salt chrystallizes naturally upon the shores ; 



it is excellent and fit for use without any prepara* 



tion, as it is very pure and not mixed with calca» 



reous earth, or any heterogeneous salts. In a valley 

 Vol. I. G 



