12 



Sect. V. Of Rain^ ^c. — From the beginning 

 of spring until autumn, there is throughout Chili a 

 constant succession of fine weather, particularly be- 

 tween the 24th and 36th degrees of latitude; but in 

 the islands, which for the most part are covered 

 with wood, the rains are very frequent even in sum- 

 mer. The rainy season on the continent usually 

 commences in April, and continues until the last of 

 August. In the northern provinces of Coquimbo 

 and Copiapo it very rarely rains ; in the central ones 

 it usually rains three or four days in succession,"and 

 the pleasant weather continues fifteen or twenty days. 

 In the southern the rains are much more frequent, and 

 often continue for nine or ten days without cessation. 

 These rains are never accompanied w^ith storms or 

 hail ; and thunder is scarcely known in the country, 

 particularly in places at a distance from the Andes, 

 where, even in summer, it is seldom ever heard.* 

 Among those mountains, and near the sea, storms 

 occasionally arise, which, according to the direction 

 of the wind, pass over, and take their course to the 

 north or south. 



In the maritime provinces snow is never seen. In 

 those nearer the Andes it falls about once in five 

 years ^ sometimes not so often, and the quantity 



of it remains unoccupied. In all this extent of country, there are 

 not above eighty thousand white inhabitants, and about tiiree times 

 that number of negroes and people of a mixed race. The most 

 fertile soil in America lies uncultivated, and some of its most pro- 

 mising mines remain unwrought. — Robertsori's History of Ame- 

 rica^ vol. iv. chap, 7. 



* '* Lightning is wholly unknown in the province of Chili, not- 

 withstanding thunder is occasionally heard at a great distance 

 over the Andes." — American Gazetteer. 



