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Show 35G CHAPTER XVI. s Carlos Chiloe-Osorno in eruption- Ride to Castro and Cucao-a~ mpenet:·able forests-Valdivia-Apple-trees-Ride to Llanos-Indians- Earthquake-Concepcion-Great earthquake-Effect~ of wave - Rocks fissured-Appearance of the former towns-Water m the bay bl k and boilina-Direction of vibration-Stones displaced-Cause of gr:~t waves-P~rmanent elevation ?f land-Gre~t lake of fluid rock beneath crust of the globe-Connexwn of volcamc phenomena-Slow elevation of mountain chain, cause of earthquakes. CHILOE AND CONCEPCION. ON JANUARY '!'HE 15TH we sailed from Lowe's Harbour and three days afterwards anchored a second time in the bay of S. Carlos in Chiloe. On the night of the 19th the volcano of Osorno was in activity. At midnight the sentry observed something like a large star; from which state the bright spot gradually increased in size till about three o'clock, when a very magnificent spectacle was presen~ed. By the aid of a glass, dark objects, in constant successiOn, were seen, in the midst of a great red glare of light, to be thrown upwards and to fall down again. The light was sufficient to cast on the water a long bright reflection. By the morning the volcano* had resumed its tranquillity. Large masses of molten matter seem very commonly to be cast out of the igneous vents, in this part of the Cordillera. I was assured, that when the Corcovado is in eruption, great masses projected upwards are seen to burst in the air, and to assume fantastical forms, such as trees and other bodies. One may form an idea of the immense size of these bodies, when it is stated that they have been seen from the high land ,.. Iu another work I shall have occasion to refer to this eruption, which is connected with one of the grandest series of volcanic phenomena on record. Jan. 1835. ClllLOE. 357 behind S. Carlos, which is distant no less than ninety-three miles from the Corcovado. Captain FitzRoy 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 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 22d. 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 consists of a succession of hills and valleys. Nearer to Castro it becomes very level, but is still some height above the sea. 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 placed longitudinally, or narrow and transversely. In summer the road is not very bad: but in winter, when the wood is rendered slipperyfrom rain, travelling is exceedingly difficult. At that time of the year, the ground on each side becomes a morass, and is often overflowed: hence it is necessary that the longitudinal logs should be fastened down by transverse poles, which are pegged on each side into the earth. These pegs render a fall from a horse dangerous ; as the chance of alighting on one of them is ·not small. It is remarkable, however, how active custom has made the Chilotan horses. In crossing bad parts, where the logs have been displaced, they skipped from one to the other, almost with the quickness and certainty of a dog. On either hand the road is bordered by the lofty forest-trees, with their bases matted together by the canes. When occasionally a ~ong reach of this avenue could be observed, it presented a curwus scene of uniformity: the white line of logs, narrowing in perspective, became hidden by the gloomy forest, or it terminated in a zigzag which ascended some steep hill. |