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

2MAIP RIVEI-R.
splendid monuments of science and skill as this bridge, and corresponding works on this road, without feeling proud of lhis
countryman, -Ir. Evans, their constructor; who, while contributing to the prosperity of Chile and to the development of its
natural resourees, nobly illustrates the enterprise and capacity
whiea have placed his country among the most progressive of
nationalities.
The floods of the Maipu wash down from the mountains
great quantities of limestone, which is gathered by the peons
when the swollen river subsides, and burnt in limekilus along
the banks, furnishing an excellent building and agricultural miaterial, as likewise that required for the conpult8ory whitewashing
of hotzses on thte occasion of the annual national ceeration.
This stream also deposits a sediment which grouts the shingle
along its course withli a natural cement, making the banks ill
many places impervious to water for a thickness of ten feet.
Up the valley to the left of the road, along which the Colorado, the northeast branch of the Maipt'i, descends, the summit of
Tupungato may be seen lifting its snowy crown in imperial
grandeur twenty-two thousand four hundred and fifty feet above
the sea, wresting from Chimborazo its ancient celebrity, and disputingc with Aconcagua, Llimani, and Sorato, the preerminelnce
of altitude on the western hemisphere.
It was on the plains of the Maipuf, but a few miles east of
the point of passage of the river by the railroad, that the decisive battle was fought which secured Chilean independence;
the Spanish army six thousand strong, in perfect discipline, and
flushed with a recent victory on the banks of the Alaule', having
been here, within a few days' march of the caltal, encountered
by six thousand five hundred Chilenos in April, 1818S, and defeated with great slaughter; two thousand of the royalists havinlg been killed and wounded, and three thousand five hundred
made prisoners-nearly the entire force.
The AIaipu River pursues its way to the Pacific through the
great portal of the Coast Range, of which mention was made in
describing the 3felipilla road to thle capital. The plain over
which the road passes to the south of the river Maipu, is much
encroached on by mountain spurs; and, after passing the An
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