What I saw on the west coast of South and North America, and at the Hawaiian Islands.: By H. Willis Baxley, M.D.

COQUIMIBO. Coquimbo has a dusty plaza, guarded from tide and roller which seek to sprinkle it, by a stone wall, beyond which projects a wharf for convenient landing of passengers and freight. On the other three sides of the plaza are frame store-houses and public offiees; miserable looking shanties compose the rest of the town. These are scattered along the foot of a hill of rocks, piled in inextricable confusion, and defying intrusion from man or beast. From the deck of the steamer sixteen furnace chimneys may be counted, w-hich, in respect to the day, are not in blast. Their foreign ownership and direction may account for this observance; for the commandment, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy," is not obeyed by the coast natives. "The Sabbath comes, a day of blessed rest: What hallows it upon this Christian shore? It is not sacred to a solemn feast. Hark! hear you not the forest monarch's roar? Crashing the lance he snuffs the spouting gore Of man and steed, o'erthrown beneath his horn; The throng'd Arena shakes with shouts for more; Yells the mad crowd o'er human entrails torn, Nor shrinks the female eye, nor e'en affects to mourn." Sixteen vessels are lying at anchor, loading and unloading, showing a considerable import and export trade with the interior through this place. The shipments from Coquimbo are copper -metal and ore. A large cargo of human live stock, chiefly of the complexion of the great staple of the coast hills for five hundred miles, and uncounted baskets, bundles, and promiscuous truek, having been taken aboard, the signal sent its echoes of departure among the distant heights, and a wild rush of affrighted natives was made from the steamer for the launches clinging to her side. So great is their horror of sea-sickness, that when a voyage is inevitable, they bury themselves in berth and blanket as soon as they come aboard, and there remain, if cabin passengers, until arriving at their destination they are aroused from torpor to go ashore. A separation at Coquimbo is a scene of action and expression, of tragedy and comedy, not easily forgotten. But the wild excitement, the mingled exclamations of apprehension, terror, and 189

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Title
What I saw on the west coast of South and North America, and at the Hawaiian Islands.: By H. Willis Baxley, M.D.
Author
Baxley, Henry Willis, 1803-1876.
Canvas
Page 189
Publication
New York,: D. Appleton & company,
1865.
Subject terms
South America -- Description and travel
California -- Description and travel
Hawaii -- Description and travel

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"What I saw on the west coast of South and North America, and at the Hawaiian Islands.: By H. Willis Baxley, M.D." In the digital collection Making of America Books. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/abf7940.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 24, 2025.
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