130 FROM ST. Catherine's to 



the sailors of the Rurick have experienced this. 

 Probably this beverage is calculated to plunder 

 foreigners, as this generally follows the drinking 

 of it. Talcaguano is, for the most part, inhabited 

 by a mixed race of Spaniards and Araucanas, who 

 have no mind for work, and therefore try to get 

 their bread by dishonourable means. 



On the 3d of March I had the pleasure of 

 entertaining a numerous company from Conception. 

 Early in the morning, when the heat was still sup- 

 portable, we saw our guests arrive at Talcaguano ; 

 most of them were on horseback, which is the 

 usual mode of travelling ; even the ladies mounted 

 spirited horses. Others drove in little huts, placed 

 on two-wheeled carts, drawn by two oxen, 

 guided by an Araucana sitting on the roof of the 

 hut. The handsome and elegant ladies, who got 

 out of these ludicrous vehicles, formed a very in- 

 teresting contrast with their equipages. As early 

 as three o'clock in the afternoon, my boat was in 

 full employment to bring my guests on board the 

 Rurick. They were very much pleased with their 

 reception, and thought the ship very pretty, but 

 surprisingly small. In the evening, I gave the 

 company a ball. As the house assigned to me was 

 too small, I had a magazine near it changed into a^ 

 ball-room, as well as I could. To two rows of pil- 

 lars on each side of the building, which served to 

 support it, were tied trees, the tops of which 

 formed a green roof. The garden and the ball-room 



