56 



îians, and that the holes were perforated to receive 

 the handies.* 



Sect. VÎIL Salts. — That part of the Andes 

 corresponding' with the provinces of Copiapo and 

 Coquimbo, contains several mountains of fossil saltj 

 dispersed in strata or layers, crystallized in trans- 

 parent cubes, frequently coloured with yellow, blue, 

 and red. The surface generally consists of an ar- 

 gillaceous earth. This salt is excellent, but it is 

 used only by such as live in the vicinity ; as those 

 who are at a distance prefer the sea salt, which is 

 obtained in great quantities, and of a fine quality 

 upon the coast, particularly at Bucalemu, Boyeruca 

 and Vichuquen, In the middle districts, however, 

 ihe salt from the springs of Pehuenches, which I 

 have already mentioned in treating of mineral wa- 

 ters, is most generally used. 



Sal-ammoniac, either incrusted or in a state of 

 efflorescence, is very common in many parts of^Chili.. 

 It is also found of various colours, in a fossil state, 

 in the vicinity of volcanoes, of which it appears to 

 be a production. 



Much of the marly ground in the neighbourhood of 

 the city of Coquimbo is covered v/ith a crust of some 

 inches of crystallized nitre, widi a base of fixed alkali, f 



* The naiions of the South Sea Idavds, discovered by cafitain 

 Cook^ have among their iveafion^ clubs of a úmilar form to 

 *vhat our author supposes these to have uec7L....Yv. Trans. 



f Nor is saltpetre less conn mon thercj which is frequently 

 found in the vallies an inch thick upon the surface of the earth. — 

 Frazier''s Voyage^ vol. 1. 



