XIV 
CHILOE 
3i3 
suddenly burst forth in eruption on the same night, the 
coincidence would be thought remarkable ; but it is far more 
remarkable in this case, where the three vents fall on the same 
great mountain-chain, and where the vast plains along the 
entire eastern coast, and the upraised recent shells along more 
than 2000 miles on the western coast, show in how equable 
and connected a manner the elevatory forces have acted. 
Captain Fitz Roy being anxious that some bearings should 
be taken on the outer coast of Chiloe, it was planned that 
Mr. King and myself should ride to Castro, and thence across 
INSIDE ISLAND OF CHILOE. 
SAN CARLOS. 
the island to the Capella de Cucao, situated on the west coast. 
Having hired horses and a guide, we set out on the morning 
of the 22nd. We had not proceeded far, before we were 
joined by a woman and two boys, who were bent on the same 
journey. Every one on this road acts on a “hail-fellow-well- 
met fashion ; ” and one may here enjoy the privilege, so rare 
in South America, of travelling without firearms. At first 
the country consisted of a succession of hills and valleys : 
nearer to Castro it became very level. The road itself is a 
curious affair ; it consists in its whole length, with the exception 
of very few parts, of great logs of wood, which are either broad 
and laid longitudinally, or narrow and placed transversely. In 
summer the road is not very bad : but in winter, when the 
wood is rendered slippery from rain, travelling is exceedingly 
