Chapter 16-17 Summary and Analysis

Commencing a 420 mile journey up the coast of Chile toward Copiapo, Darwin rides his horse along a road that runs close to the ocean. Not finding much of interest along this route, he turns inland to a mining district.

The miners work hard and long. When they get paid, they spend all their money on drink and clothes, and then return to the mines penniless.

"The dress of the Chilian miner is peculiar and rather picturesque. He wears a very long shirt of some dark-coloured baize, with a leather apron; the whole being fastened round his waist by a bright-coloured sash. His trousers are very broad, and his small cap of scarlet cloth is made to fit the head closely," (p. 343).

The rest of the journey proves uninteresting. Darwin explores the northern part of Chile, but the area consists...