at a great eleyation, where it is both cold and extremely
sterile. At first I imagined, that these houses were places
of refuge built by the Indians on the first arrival of the
Spaniards; but subsequently I have been almost inclined
to speculate on the possibility of a small change of climate.
In the northern parts of Chile, within the Cordillera of
Copiapo, old Indian houses are found in very many parts:
by digging amongst the ruins, hits of woollen articles, instruments
of precious metals, aud heads of Indian com, are
not unfrequently discovered. I had likewise in my possession
the head of an arrow, made of agate, of precisely the
same figure as those now used in Tierra del Fuego. I am
aware that the Peruvian Indians* frequently inhabit most
lofty and bleak situations; but in these cases, I was assured
by men, who had spent their lives in travelling the Andes,
that very many [mudmimas) houses were found at elevations
so great as almost to border on the perpetual snow, and in
parts where there exist no passes, and where the land produces
absolutely nothing, and what is still more extraordinary,
where there is no water. Nevertheless it is the
opinion of the people of the country (although they are much
puzzled by the circumstance), that, from the appearance of
the houses, the Indians must have used them as places of
residence. In the Despoblado (uninhabited valley), near
Copiapo, at a spot called Punta Gorda, I saw the remains
of seven or eight square little rooms, which were of a
similar form with those at the TambiUos, but built chiefly
of mud (which the present inhabitants cannot by any means
imitate in durabilityf) instead of with stone. They were
situated in the most conspicuous and defenceless position,
* M r. P e n t la n d ev en co n s id e rs, t h a t th e lo v e o f a n e le v a te d s itu a tio n is
c h a ra c te r is tic o f th e c o n s titu tio n o f th is ra c e .— Geograph. Journ.
-j- U llo a (N o tic ia s A m e ric a n a s , p . 3 0 2 ) rem a rk s o n th e s am e c irc um s
ta n c e in P e r u . H e ad d s, w h e n s p e a k in g o f th e m u d b rick s, “ wh ich gives
room to th in k t h a t th e y h a d som e p a r tic u la r m e th o d o f w o rk in g th em ,
t h a t th e y s h o u ld b e c om e h a rd , w ith o u t c ra ck in g , th e s e c r e t o f w h ic h th e
p r e s e n t in h a b ita n ts a r e ig n o ra n t of.”
at the bottom of a flat broad valley. There was no water
nearer than three or four leagues, and that only in very
small quantity, and bad: the soil was absolutely sterile;—
I looked in vain even for a lichen adhering to the rocks.
At the present day, with the advantage of beasts of burden,
a mine, unless it were very rich, could scarcely be worked
there with profit. Yet the Indians formerly chose it as a
place of residence! If at the present time two or three
showers of rain were to fall annually, instead of one during
as many years, as now is the case, a small rill of water
would in aU probability be formed in this great valley,
draining a mountainous country; and then, by irrigation
(the method of which was formerly so well understood by
the Indians), the soil might easily be rendered sufficiently
productive to support a few families.
I have certain proofs that this part of the continent of South
America has been elevated, near the coast, at least from four
to five hundred feet, since the epoch of existing shells; and
further inland the rise possibly may have been greater. As
the peculiarly arid character of the climate is evidently a
consequence of the height of the great range of mountains,
we may feel almost sure, that prior to the latter elevations,
the atmosphere was- not so completely drained of its moisture
as at the present day. At a remote geological era, it is
probable that the Andes consisted of a chain of islands,
which were covered by luxuriant forests; and many of the
trees, in a sihcified state, may now be seen embedded in
the upper conglomerates. Of these I measured one which
was cylindrical, with a circumference of fifteen feet. As it
is nearly certain that the mountains have risen slowly, so
would the climate likewise become deteriorated slowly.
We need not feel greatly surprised at walls of stone and
hardened mud here lasting for many ages, when we remember
how many centuries the Druidioal mounds have withstood
even the climate of England. The only question is, whether
the amount of change, since the introduction of man into
South America, has been suflicient to cause a sensible
T
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