CMILI. 



465 



3. Rivers. The rivers are numerous, but small, and have generally rapid currents. Some 

 of the principal ones are the Mauhy the Biobio, the Cauten, the Tolteii, the Valdivia, the 

 Chaivin, the Bueno^ and the Sinjondo. 



4. Lakes. The principal lakes are those of Tagatagua and Taren ; beside which there are 

 some sah-water lakes that have a communication with the sea for a part of the year. In 

 stormy weather the sea forces a way through them, and leaves them full of fish ; but in the hot 

 season the water congeals, leaving a crust of fine white salt a foot thick. 



5. Islands. There are 47 islands m 

 the archipelago of Chiloe, at the south- 

 ern extremity of Chili, 32 of which are 

 inhabited. The island of Chiloe, which 

 gives its name to the group, is 140 miles 

 long, and about 60 broad. Much am- 

 bergris is found here. The islands of 

 Juan Fernandez have been used by the 

 Chilian government as a place for the 

 exportation of criminals. The group 

 consists of 2 islands, called J\Ias a Tier- 

 ra, the largest and most important, and 

 jyias a Fuero. It has derived celebrity 

 from its having been the solitary resi- 

 dence of Alexander Selkirk, a Scotch 

 sailor, whose adventures suggested the 

 favorite romance of Robinson Crusoe. 



6. Climate. A striking difl'erence 

 exists in the chmate on the east and 

 west sides of the Andes, for there the 

 dry and rainy seasons occur at opposite 

 periods. In Chili winter is the rainy 

 season, while on the other side of the 



Andes it is the period of their finest weather, and the atmosphere scarcely presents a cloud. 

 In the northern provinces, however, rain seldom falls, but its deficiency is supplied by the dews, 

 which are very heavy during spring, summer, and autumn. Snow falls abundantly on the An- 

 des, but is never seen on the coast. Chili is perhaps blessed with the most salubrious and de- 

 lightful climate on the globe. 



7. Soil and JVatural Productions. There are some sterile tracts, but in general the soil is 

 remarkably fruitful, and the products are rich and varied. The maritime tracts are less pro- 

 ductive than the midland, and those again yield to the valleys of the Andes. Numerous plants 

 are peculiar to the country. The uncultivated parts present the utmost profusion of vegetable 

 riches. The plains, valleys, and mountains are covered with a variety of beautiful trees, many 

 of which preserve their foliage throughout the year. Medicinal, dyeing, and aromatic plants 

 also abound ; and the fruits introduced by Europeans, grow in greater perfection than in their 

 native soil. 



5. Minerals. Chili abounds in all kinds of metals. Gold, silver, copper, and quicksil- 

 ver, are those that are wrought. Gold is the most copious, and in some districts there is 

 scarcely a hill which does not contain it. It is also washed down by the mountain streams. 

 The silver mines are found in the higher regions of the Andes, and the great expense of work- 

 ing them in these bleak and barren climes, has caused several to be abandoned. The richest 

 silver mine is that which extends to the plain of Uspallata ; the vein, it is said, has been traced 

 to the extraordinary length of 90 miles. The number of copper mines is very great, as be- 

 tween the cities of Coquimbo and Copiapo more than 1,000 have been opened, but those only 

 are worked in which the ore is so rich as to yield half its weight in pure metal. All the lead 

 contains a certain proportion of silver, but it is too small to excite the attention of the miners, 

 in a country where that metal is so abundant. Precious stones are occasionally found, and fine 

 quarries of marble are very common. 



9. Animals. This country is free from dangerous or venomous animals, which are so much 

 dreaded in hot countries, and has but one species of small serpent, and that perfectly harmless. 

 The lama and the vicuna are found in the Andes. The wild-dog, the goat, and the fox, with 



59 



Alexander Selkirk, on the Island of Jvan Fernandez. 



