THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE 
567 
1846 .] 
June , 1846. — The geology of the western coast of South America is very inter, 
esting, in consequence of the great convulsions of nature which have taken place 
since the settlement of the country by Europeans, and also the visible effects of 
these which have occurred at a remoter period. Here, cities have been sunk and 
long lines of coast elevated in a few minutes, while the shattered and broken 
rocks, traversed by innumerable dykes of green stone, show what commotions 
formerly took place. The surrounding hills of Valparaiso consist of a granitic 
formation, which sometimes assumes the character of gneiss, and sometimes of 
granite. Their summits are flaLtopped, and their flanks are rounded. That side 
of these mountains which fronts the prevailing winds is generally covered with 
forest. Here, during the summer, which forms the greater part of the year, the 
wind blows straightly from the southward, and a little off shore, so that rain never 
falls; but duringthe three winter months it is sufficiently abundant. The vegeta- 
tion in consequence is very scanty. 
Chile is traversed by several mountain chains, between which are beautiful val- 
lies, and these are connected by narrow passages. These vallies, together with the 
passages, were formerly the bottoms of inlets and bays. A very fine kind of wheat 
is extensively cultivated in these vallies, also Indian corn, peaches, figs, apples, 
grapes, strawberries, and many other kinds of fruit ; but the staple food, particularly 
among the laboring classes, is a kind of bean. 
Bell mountain is six thousand four hundred feet high, and twenty-six miles dis- 
tant from Valparaiso, and at this season of the year presents a fine view, covered 
with snow. 
Jn the neighborhood much copper is found, and the ore is mostly sent to Swan- 
sea, England, to be smelted. The Chile government, or rather the old Spanish law, 
encourages the searching for mines. The discoverer may work a mine on any 
ground by paying five shillings, and before paying, he may even try in the garden 
of another man. The Chilian method is still the cheapest. The two principal im- 
provements introduced by foreigners have been, first, by roasting the copper pyrites, 
which is the common ore in Cornwall, and the English miners found this thrown 
away as useless ; secondly, stamping and washing the scoria from the furnaces, 
by which process particles of metal are recovered in abundance. They send to 
England cargoes of this scoria or cinders. The Chilian miners thought that there 
was not a particle of copper in the pyrites, and were under this mistake for many 
years, and laughed at the English who bought their richest veins for affew dollars. 
The workmen receive about one pound sterling per month and food, which con- 
sists of sixteen figs and two small loaves of bread for breakfast, and for dinner 
boiled beans, for supper broken roasted wheat grain. The miners who work in 
the mines receive about twenty-five shillings per month, and are allowed a little 
“ charqui” or dried beef. 
Very respectfuly submitted, 
J. C. REINHARDT, Naturalist. 
To Captain John Percival, 
Commanding United States Frigate Constitution. 
