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

436 VIEW — CHIVILINGO— SANTA MART A. JunC The gallant steed unhurt appeared, Strove foremost in the fight, and feared Only to be the last! Ekcilla. Canto VI. We ascended the heights by winding narrow paths, up which our horses were led, in order to spare them as much as possible, and met a small party of Chilians, on their way from the wreck of the Challenger towards Concepcion, from whom we heard that the wreck had been abandoned, and that the officers and crew were entrenched in a secure position, on the height of ' Tucapel Viejo,' close to tlie mouth of the river Lelibu. We were also told that the Indians increased in number daily, and that Great fears of their hostility were entertained. From the summit of Villagran we had an extensive view, reaching from Tumbes Heights, at the west side of the Bay of Concepcion, to Cape Rumena. The low island of Santa Maria, with its sandy spit, shaped like an arm, seemed to be within a few miles of us, though distant several leagues. I could trace the long, low, and almost straight beach of Laraquete till ended by the white cliffs of Tubul : I could distinguish the height immortalized by Colocolo"'s name, and under it smoke arising from the classical Arauco. Southward, a large extent of fertile, level, and rather woody plains reached to distant ranges of hills, which showed only a faint blue outline. Time allowed no dela})', but with a hasty glance, as we mounted our horses and cantered along the summit, I saw a schooner* in the distance, off the Paps of Bio Bio, working her way to the southward. Descending the hill, we reached ' Chivilingo,' a village near a small river which runs through a ' hacienda' belonging to the ' Santa Mana' family. We called at the door of their large, barn-like dwelling, to ask if horses could be spared. The mis- tress of the house happened to be at home, having lately ai'rived from Concepcion ; and directly she heard my story she ordered every horse to be put in requisition; but, unfortunately, two only were within reach, one of which was lame. All the others had been sent to grass at a distance. After acknowledg- * The Carmen, Avith Mr. Usborne on board— see pa^e 456.