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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. 



The valley, which had narrowed into a mere ravine, opens 

 a little 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 ci'ops 

 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. 



