34 



of the Andes, inhabited by the Pehuenches, in 34 

 deg. 40 min. latitude, are eleven springs of very 

 clesir and limpid water, which overflows the surface, 

 and becomes crystallized into a salt as white as 

 snow. This valley is about fifteen miles in circum- 

 ference, and is entirely covered, for the depth of six 

 feet, with a crust of salt, which is collected by the 

 inhabitants in large pieces and used for all domestic 

 purposes. The surrounding mountains afford no 

 external indication of mineral salt, but they must 

 necessarily abound with it, from the great quanti- 

 ties deposited by these springs. 



Mineral waters are common in Chili. The most 

 celebrated are those of the Spanish settlements of 

 Peldehues and Cauquenes. The source of the for- 

 mer is on the summit of one of the exterior moun- 

 tains of the Andes, to the north of St. Jago. It 

 consists of two springs of very different tempera- 

 tures, one hot and the other cold ; the former is 

 sixty degrees above the freezing point by Reaumur's 

 thermometer, the latter four degrees below it. They 

 are about eighty feet distant, and their waters are uni- 

 ted, by means of canals, so as to form a tepid bath, 

 which is found very efficacious in many disorders. 

 The water of the hot spring is oily to the touch, 

 and foams like soap suds ; it abounds with mi- 

 neral alkali, which appears to be combined with 

 an unctuous substance in a state of solution. It is 

 clear, inodorous, impregnated with a very little fixed 

 air, and its specific weight is but two degrees above 

 that of common distilled water. Its heat is probably 

 owing to the effervescence of a large body of pyrites 



