XVI 
ANCIENT INDIAN HOUSES 
381 
In this northern part of Chile, within the Cordillera, old 
Indian houses are said to be especially numerous : by digging 
amongst the ruins, bits of woollen articles, instruments of 
precious metals, and heads of Indian corn, are not unfrequently 
discovered : an arrow-head made of agate, and of precisely the 
same form with those now used in Tierra del Fuego, was given 
me. I am aware that the Peruvian Indians now frequently 
inhabit most lofty and bleak situations ; but at Copiapo I was 
assured by men who had spent their lives in travelling through 
the Andes, that there were very many ( muchisimas ) buildings at 
heights so great as almost to border on the perpetual snow, and 
in parts where there exist no passes, and where the land 
produces absolutely nothing, and what is still more extraordinary, 
where there is no water. Nevertheless it is the opinion of the 
people of the country (although they are much puzzled by the 
circumstance), that, from the appearance of the houses, the 
Indians must have used them as places of residence. In this 
valley, at Punta Gorda, the remains consisted of seven or eight 
square little rooms, which were of a similar form with those at 
Tambillos, but built chiefly of mud, which the present 
inhabitants cannot, either here or, according to Ulloa, in Peru, 
imitate in durability. They were situated in the most 
conspicuous and defenceless position, at the bottom of the flat 
broad valley. There was no water nearer than three or four 
leagues, and that only in very small quantity, and bad : the soil 
was absolutely sterile ; I looked in vain even for a lichen 
adhering to the rocks. At the present day, with the advantage 
of beasts of burden, a mine, unless it were very rich, could 
scarcely be worked here with profit. Yet the Indians formerly 
chose it as a place of residence ! If at the present time two or 
three showers of rain were to fall annually, instead of one, as now 
is the case, during as many years, a small rill of water would 
probably be formed in this great valley ; and then, by irrigation 
(which was formerly so well understood by the Indians), the 
soil would easily be rendered sufficiently productive to support 
a few families. 
I have convincing proofs that this part of the continent of 
South America has been elevated near the coast at least from 
400 to 500, and in some parts from 1000 to 1300 feet, since 
the epoch of existing shells ; and farther inland the rise possibly 
