Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

1835. COCHAYUYO— COAL. 423 on the shores continually washed by the sea, or on those tracks which have been overflowed by an extraordinary tide. They adhere to a sea-plant called cochayuyo (a). " This plant divides itself into several branches, equal in dimensions to the main stem. These branches successively pro- duce others of the same proportion, so that the produce of one single root covers a prodigious space. At the joints, where the branches spring, is found this kind of shell-fish, where they both receive their nourishment, and propagate their species." Ulloa's Voyage, translated by Adams, vol. ii. pp. 252-254. Not far from Old Penco is the stratum of coal about which there has lately been much discussion. Herrera says, " There is coal upon the beach, near the city of Concepcion : it burns like charcoal."* Frezier bears witness that near Talcahuano there is good coal, which can be obtained without digging deeper than two feet ; and he declares that the natives were astonished at his companions taking a substance out of the earth to burn as fuel in their forge.-f- Captain Basil Hall saw the place whence coal had been " worked without any trouble. The seam is thick, and apparently extensive, and might probably, with due care and skill, be wrought to any extent."! Captain Hall " laid in a supply of coals at this place. The coals, which were brought for us to the beach, cost twelve shiUings per ton, every thing included.""^ Steven- son says, " To what extent the coal reaches, has never yet been ascertained ; all that has been used has been obtained by throw- ing aside the mould which covers the surface. This "coal is similar in appearance to the English cannel ; but it is reason- able to suppose that if the mine were dug to any considerable depth, the quality would be found to improve."|| Many other authorities^! might be cited to prove that coal exists abundantly near Concepcion, and that it has often been (a) See note at end of chapter. * Dee. 8, 1, 6, c, 11. t Frezier's Voyage, p. 146. X Hall's Journal, vol. i. p. 303. § Idem, p. 307. II Stevenson's South America, vol. i. p. 121. If The Earl of Dundonald for instance.