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moist ground, where there were likewise several plants of 
Psoralea glandulosa, the Culen of Chili. The Molle frequently 
occurred on the banks of the stream, which were covered 
with large shrubs. i | 
The valley, which had narrowed into a mere ravine, opens 
alittle on approaching the town of Obrajillo, three leagues 
from Huarimayo, which we reached about sunset, after 
recrossing the stream, over a natural bridge formed of two 
masses of rock that incline from the sides, and, meeting 
over the middle of the channel, leave a passage for the water 
beneath. 
Obrajillo is twenty-one leagues from Lima, about mid-way 
between that city and Pasco. Most of the muleteers who 
pass between the mines and the capital reside there; a great 
convenience to travellers, as they get fresh mules for the 
. remaining half of the journey. The valley is wide enough to 
allow some ground to be cultivated between the town and the 
stream; and above the town, towards the south, there is a recess 
in the mountains, occupied by low rounded hills, which have 
been levelled and formed into a series of small terraces for 
the cultivation of grain and vegetables, a sort of work for which 
the ancient Peruvians were celebrated, These patches of land 
being irrigated by a stream of water brought from above, the 
tufaceous rock readily decomposes by the constant moisture, 
and, combined with vegetable mould washed down by the 
rains, forms a black fertile loam, which yields luxuriant crops 
without manure. On an eminence at the extremity of this 
cultivated land, about — feet above the level of Obrajillo, and 
half a mile distant, in a straight line, stands the town of Canta, 
the chief town of the province of the same-name, and the 
residence of the Intendent and a Governor; it consists, how- 
ever, like Obrajillo, of small houses, little better than huts, 
and the population of the two towns, chiefly Indian, is only 
about eight hundred souls. | 
The day after our arrival was the feast of St. John, the 
patron saint of Obrajillo. Our muleteer being one of the 
alcaldes of the town, and named after the saint, his presence 
was considered necessary at the festival, It was recollected, 
