J5|j^ Spanifh language to put the queftions that I wifhed to have refolved'irv
' I—,— -i a proper way myfelf, nor tO‘ acquire the information I fought for, in fo
correfl a manner as is- defirable in inquiries of this nature; in addition
to this difadvantage, I found it almoft impoflible, on a variety of occa-
fions, to make our interpreters tranflate our queftions on fubjefls on which
they were not converfant, fo as to obtain, from thofe who w.ere able to
reply to them, fatisfaftory anfwers.
The city of St. Jago, including the detached houfes, or fuburbs, I
fhould fuppofe, cannot be left than three or four miles in circumference ;
but this is only by eftimation, as I did not converfe with any one who
could-, or did, anfwer me this queftion ; but as the ftreets run at right
angles to each other, and feme of them are little fhort of a mile in
length, this computation eannot be very erroneous, The city, is well
fopplied with water from the river Mapocho, which has its fource in the
mountains, at fome diftance from the capital, and is made to branch off
in fuch a manner, on its approaching the town,, as to pafs through the
principal ftreets. This, in a hot climate, cannot but be fuppofed a very
great l-uxury, and as conducing extremely to the health of the inhabitants
; but the fame want of cleanlinefs that pervades the infides of the
houfes, here manifefted itfelf in the open, air, and inftead. of this ftream
becoming the-means by which the ftreets might have been kept conftant.
ly fweet, it is rendered a moft infufferable nuifance,,by the prodigious
quantity of filth which is emptied into it from the houfes. As no care
was taken that a fufficiency o f water fhould . be brought down to-carry
the foil and naftinefs away, nor to remove it in-places where it form-*
ed obftruftions to the current, and produced the moft offenfive exhalations
; and as the ftreets, which are narrow, are partially paved with
fmall ftones in the middle, and with only a few ilag-flones for foot paf,
fengers on the fides, our walking, about the town was, from thefe. circum-,
fiances, rendered very unpleafant.
The river before mentioned, from whence - the city is fupplied with
water, overflowed its banks, in the month of june, 1783, in confequence
of an inundation, and rufhed down towards-St. Jago, with fuch impetus
3 ousous
fury, that it demolilhed almoft all the dams that defended the coun- >795-
. ' . . . . _ \April.
try, did confiderable damage in-the town, and filled every individual with <--- y-— 1
fear and confternation left a fécond inundation fhould fucceed ; in which
cafe, from the extremely defencelefs ftate in which thefe torrents had left
the city, there was great reafon to apprehend that not a fingle edifice
would be left Handing in the capital. The prefent Captain-General gave
immediate orders that plans fhould be made by the moft able and experienced
engineers, and architects, for the purpofe o f replacing a wall, or
dam, that had principally defended the city from the river, and which
had been deftroyed, at this time, by the inundating force of its waters ;
but, notwith(landing that the defign he had in. view was for the prote&ion
of St. Jago and the furrounding country, and to infure the fafety, interdis,
and comforts of the inhabitants; yet, a popular party was made
againfthim, as in the-inftance of the new road, which he projected, and
is now carrying, into execution between-this place and Valparaifo, and,
after experiencing much fatigue, perplexity, and expence, it was not until
the month of january, 1792, that he effefled his purpofe fo far, as to
begin the excavation for the new wall; or dam; againft the fide of
the river.. This will long remain a monument , of his patriotifm and
perfeverànce, and he has now the gratification o f hearing many of
thofe who had before oppofed the undertaking, acknowledge this va>
luable defign to be an effeftual proteflion againft any future danger,,.
■ - ■ '■ < y ''
The wall is Laid to have a foundation fourteen feet helow, and to rife
as many feet-above, the furfàee of the river ; it appeared -to be a very
ftrongwork, well'executed, and capable of refilling any force or weight
of water that may. come againft it,. It not only affords complete fecurity
to the town, but ferves as an agreeable walk- for the recreation of the
inhabitants.. On the fide next to the water a parapet wall is raifed, fuffi-
ciently high to prevent any accident in walking ; it-is- about a quarter of
a,mile in length, and, at convenient diftances, flights o f eafy and commodious
flairs are judicioufly placed to afeend the wall,-from whence a
commanding .view is obtained of St. Jago and the adjacent country,, ' The
whole1