Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.3)

CONTENTS. XIU CHAPTER XVir. Valparaiso— Passage of Andes by Portillo pass — Sagacity of mules Mountain torrents — Mines, how discovered — Marine alluvium in val- leys — Effect of snow on surface — Geology, fossil shells, double range, two periods of elevation — Red snow — Winds on the crest — Snow thaw- ing in pinnacles — Dry and clear atmosphere — Electricity — Pampas Zoology of opposite sides of Andes — Uniformity of Patagonia — Locusts — Great bugs — Mendoza — Uspallata — Silicified trees in vertical posi- tion — Indian ruins — Change of climate — Earthquake arching bed of river — Cumbre — Valparaiso. .... 382 CHAPTER XVIII. Bell mountain — Miners — Great loads carried by the Apires — Coquimbo — Earthquake — Geology — Terraces — Excursion up valley — Road to Guasco — Desert country — Valley of Copiapo — Rain and earthquakes, Meteorolites — Hydrophobia — Copiapo — Excursion to Cordillera — Dry valley — Cold gales of wind — Noises from a hill — Iquique, complete desert — Salt alluvium — Nitrate of soda — Lima — Unhealthy country Ruins of Callao, overthrown by earthquake — Elevated shells on island of San Lorenzo — Plain with embedded fragments of pottery . 416 CHAPTER XIX. Galapagos Islands volcanic — Number of craters — Leafless bushes — Colony at Charles Island — James Island — Salt-lake in crater — Character of vegetation — Ornithology, curious finches — Great tortoises, habits of, paths to the wells — Marine lizard feeds on sea-weed — Terrestrial species, burrowing habits, herbivorous — Importance of reptiles in the Archi- pelago — Few and minute insects — American type of organization — Spe- cies confined to certain islands — Tameness of birds — Falkland Islands — Fear of man an acquired instinct. . , . 453 CHAPTER XX. Tahiti — Aspect of — -Vegetation on the slope of the mountains — View of Eimeo — Excursion in the interior — Profound ravines — Succession of waterfalls — Number of wild useful plants — Temperance of inhabitants — Their moral state — Parliament convened — New Zealand — Bay of islands — Hippahs — Absenceof all government — Excursion to Waimate — Missionary establishment — English weeds now run wild — Waiomio Funeral service — Sail from New Zealand . . . 479 CHAPTER XXI. Sydney — Prosperity of — Excursion to Bathurst — Aspect of woods — Party of Natives — Gradual extinction of aborigines — Blue Mountains Weatherboard — View of a grand gulf-like valley — Sheep farm — Lion- ant — Bathurst, general civility of lower orders — State of society — Van VOL. III. C