The Red Cloud chief., 1884-03-07
The Baths Of Cauquedes.

Here l am among the Andes. I could
not leave Santiago without visiting the
celebrated Baths of Cauquedes, the first
syllable of which word must be pro.
nounced like u English word ''cow."
At eight O'Clock on a fine morning
how often Journeys begin on fine morn
ings!-I lef. by the railway, and at
l1:15 we stopped to breakfast, ana very
badly. at Rancdgus. The ChiIians
seemed to me to think more about
gourds and tunas than about good meat
In our two-hours-and-a-quarter journey
We passed through much cultivation by
irrigation, conducted from the many
mountain streams. There was much
cattle. and many horses were -.
be seen scattered v the coun-
try, and some of these last were Curl
Ously occupied in wading up the shall
low courses of the water in search of
some plant growing at the bottom.
which they spied through the crystal
liquid from time to time and then
ducked. their heads to pick up great
mOuthfu!s of it. Dry mud walls and
houses appear on all sides. and the dust
was abundant indeed. The corn har-
vest was going on, and the wheat was
being thrashed out on the thrashing-
floor with horses. Round stones
abounded everywhere, showing how
the districts have been coursed by huge
waters. The people looked rude and
free: they wore pOnchOs, and gOiter was
visible on many threats. the result (asin
Switzerland) of drinking snow-water.
When We came to the station for eau
quedes. l took the cOche' for the baths
distance of seven leagues, which Oc-
us some two hours and q half,
with one change of horses. The teams
consisted of four. and these were caught
out grazing on the spot, and harnessed
before our eyes. They were excellent
animals. though rough, and were har-
abreast Our pace vas excel
lent, but there was much delay befOrs
starting, and the same at the change.
The dust vas frightful, as it is all over
such parts of Chilli as l have visited:
the nuisance of it may be compared
with that of the vile coal smoke on their
railways; this last being a perfect poison
in their magnificent air. At last we
to the baths, finely situated on
the Cachapoal River, with dry mount
aims and The cactus all round. The
spot is extremely rocky and pictur-
esque. and from the garden Of the estab-
iiShment the views are grand; ones i'm
pressiOns being enhanced by the sense
it is the huge range of the Andes
and no mere holiday river-rOckS that are
YOU. The long backbone of the
as it winds its long way
down from the Grand COrdillera,
IS particularly imposing. The tor
rent, rushes by the baths
a deep mountain gorge: all is
On n grand scale. The establishment is
built in two principal quadrangles. with
shady walks round. There
are three spr;ngs-cold tepid and hot;
and there are two properties in the
xater-sulphurous and chalybeate.
The baths are well freguented and well
The grand range is not
from the baths themselves, but
BY mounting a rugged rock, after cross
NC a sufficiently impressive and dane
ng suspension bridge. the glorious as
peaks appear or the horizon.
The cOlOrs on them of the sunsets are
surprising; and as you look upon the
west side OF the range these shine full
md uninterrupted. Even these districts
ire not free from shocks of earth uakes.
was startled at night by the shaking
If my bed. and on waking and in
'tinctively calling out: ''Quien esp re-
e we'd no answer. Then the city clock
oiled two: and l knew that l had felt
IN earthquake; and the next days
paper gave the follow ng short notice
Spanish, which 1 translate: "La>t
night. shortly before two. a mild shock
If earthquake was felt No harm to
one this time-and here l am again
It SantiagO.-COr. London Graphic.