SOUTH AMERICA. 



295 



frequent rains which fall at this season, renders it 

 damp and chilly, as at New-Orleans. The climate of 

 the southern latitudes, although they do not accord 

 with the same degree, north of the equator, in the eas- 

 tern hemisphere, are yet several degrees warmer than 

 in North America. This place is situated in about 

 thirty-five degrees south, and ought therefore to cor- 

 respond with the climate of Norfolk. But less cold is 

 felt here, than in Charleston or New-Orleans. This 

 is an important consideration, with respect to the ter- 

 ritory of the republic, to the southward of this place. 

 Molina, the historian of Chili, has taken pains to dis- 

 prove, in his work, to which I would refer the reader, 

 the prevalent idea of the excessive cold of Patagonia. 

 I think it highly probable, that as high south as latitude 

 fifty degrees, the climate is at least as mild as that of 

 Philadelphia. On some other occasion, when I come 

 to speak of the geography of this vast country, I will 

 say more on this subject. 



The day after we arrived was Sunday, and the 

 streets were crowded with people. I was very fre- 

 quently reminded of my old place of residence, New- 

 Orleans, with the exception that the proportion of co- 

 lored people is comparatively very small, but amongst 

 the lower classes I remarked a great many of Indian 

 extraction; this was discoverable in the complexion 

 and features. The inhabitants generally, are a shade 

 browner than those of North America; but I saw a 

 great many with good complexions. They are a 

 handsome people. They have nothing in their ap- 

 pearance and character, of that dark, jealous and re- 

 vengeful disposition, we have been in the habit of at- 

 tributing to Spaniards. The men dress pretty much 



