The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Reading notes on Miers, Travels in Chile and La Plata. CUL-DAR40.49. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua, corrections by Gordon Chancellor, edited by John van Wyhe 12.2021, corrections by John van Wyhe 2024. RN3

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. Mostly written in pencil then over-written in black ink.

The format in which these are written, and the fact that they were first written in pencil and then overwritten almost entirely in black ink, would suggest these are field notes. But they are in fact reading notes on Miers 1826. The words at the top of 49v "May 20th started" is when Miers started his journey. Miers 1826, vol. 1, p. 192.

Also mentioned is Brand, Charles. 1828. Journal of a voyage to Peru: A passage across the Cordillera of the Andes, in the Winter of 1827, performed on foot in the snow; and a journey across the Pampas. London: Henry Colburn. Brand is cited in South America, p. 189. Brand is noted on CUL-DAR36.536v.

[49]

Between Mendoza & Cordilleras Traversia with some little limestone &c peeping up –

P 276 partly good geolog account of the Paramillo range

Serpentine east of States

Hornblende slates

Pass of [Villa] Vicencio & Canota in Paramillo

In latter in Paramillo range horizontal beds over the strata.

Uspallata or Paramillo? secondary formation

There is road from Uspallata to S Juan. –

P 283 – Sandstone at Mendoza: Sulphur formation near S Juan – Bitumen pits south extreme if by Paramillo

P 285 Pumice quarry somewhere near Mendoza – (supposed volcano)

Uspallata plains alluvial?

Tam [Balitos] first true porphyry

[49v]

May 20th started: / Punta de los Vacas, breccia

Near el cerro de los penitentes castle hill

Calcareous & gypseous Tufa in valleys –. Incas bridge:– Saline matter – Water 96° Minerals Air bubbles [airing out] Before this much breccia– Analysis given in Lieut. Brandes Travels

R de los Horcones. very much gypsum between breccia

Paramillo de los Cuevos some say a volcano.– 10.044 alone by [illeg] 1875 Cumbre. 1871 11.920 ft.–

He crossed end of October, beginning of November & end of May.– From end of May to the end of October [Casucha] only to be confirmed on foot.–

Porphry – [Casuche] Porphyry

Red snow & green

From S. Felipe. or Aconcagua then round to S. Juan by pass to Los Patos

345 Ponce & provisions for crossing the Cordilleras: Alfajas or saddle bags: Passes 352. distances – [Barn] - [illeg]

Analysis given in Lieut. Brandes Travels] insertion in brown ink.

A piece of the bottom left corner excised, presumably a sketch.

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)