1S39.J PRIVATE DWELLINGS. 95 



and another of these edifices is used for the public library and 

 printing-office. The library contains several thousand printed 

 volumes, and a number of curious manuscripts relative to the 

 Indian tribes, who originally occupied the country. 



Most of the private dwellings in Santiago are but one story 

 high, — being built in this manner on account of the earth- 

 quakes. They have red tiled roofs projecting so as to form 

 a piazza, or covered-way ; and the outside walls, as well as 

 those around the orchards and gardens, are all whitewashed 

 bver every year, which gives them a peculiarly neat and lively 

 appearance. The houses occupy considerable ground ; many 

 of them take up one sixth part of a quadra. They consist 

 of different compartments, or suites of rooms, ranged round 

 three patios, or quadrangular courts ; the first, or outer 

 court, is usually paved with pebbles from the bed of the 

 Maypocho ; the second is commonly laid out as a parterre, 

 and decorated with shrubs and flowers ; and the third is used 

 for domestic purposes. A wide archway opening into the 

 front patio, is open during the day, but closed at night by 

 heavy folding gates. The windows looking into the two 

 outer courts, are protected by ornamental iron gratings ; the 

 windows in the rear court are generally small openings in 

 the doors also covered with gratings. The two fronts, on 

 either side of the gateway, and the sides facing the streets, 

 where there are not blank walls, are often divided into rooms 

 separate from the apartments occupied by the family, and 

 rented for shops and fancy stores. 



There are three markets in the city, the principal one of 

 which is held in the Bassordl, a large open space covering 

 four or five acres, at the foot of the bridge. The area is sur- 

 rounded by a low building, with a tile roof, supported by 

 columns. Good meat, and fruit and vegetables of all kinds, 

 can be procured here. The other markets are mere movea- 

 ble stands at either end of the Canada. Meat, kitchen 

 vegetables, fruits, and lucerne, the common fodder for horses, 

 are continually hawked about the streets. 



Santiago is famous for its fine horses. Large quantities 



