[5] This Is Merely An Illustration Of The Admirable Laws, First Laid Down By Mr. Lyell, On The Geographical Distribution Of Animals, As Influenced By Geological Changes.

The whole reasoning, of course, is founded on the assumption of the immutability of species; otherwise the difference in the species in the two regions might be considered as superinduced during a length of time.

CHAPTER XVI

NORTHERN CHILE AND PERU

Coast-road to Coquimbo - Great Loads carried by the Miners - Coquimbo - Earthquake - Step-formed Terrace - Absence of recent Deposits - Contemporaneousness of the Tertiary Formations - Excursion up the Valley - Road to Guasco - Deserts - Valley of Copiapo - Rain and Earthquakes - Hydrophobia - The Despoblado - Indian Ruins - Probable Change of Climate - River-bed arched by an Earthquake - Cold Gales of Wind - Noises from a Hill - Iquique - Salt Alluvium - Nitrate of Soda - Lima - Unhealthy Country - Ruins of Callao, overthrown by an Earthquake - Recent Subsidence - Elevated Shells on San Lorenzo, their decomposition - Plain with embedded Shells and fragments of Pottery - Antiquity of the Indian Race.

APRIL 27th. - I set out on a journey to Coquimbo, and thence through Guasco to Copiapo, where Captain Fitz Roy kindly offered to pick me up in the Beagle. The distance in a straight line along the shore northward is only 420 miles; but my mode of travelling made it a very long journey. I bought four horses and two mules, the latter carrying the luggage on alternate days. The six animals together only cost the value of twenty-five pounds sterling, and at Copiapo I sold them again for twenty-three. We travelled in the same independent manner as before, cooking our own meals, and sleeping in the open air.

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