A LAZY GUIDE. 195 



The character of the vegetation was the same as 

 that about Santiago, but the general aspect indicated 

 a decided increase of dryness in the climate, so that 

 at the present season there was very little remaining 

 to be gleaned by the botanical collector. As usually 

 happens, however, careful search did not go quite un- 

 rewarded. I found several species not before seen, 

 and even where there were no specimens fit for 

 preservation something was to be learned. My next 

 object was to ascend the neighbouring hill, or cerro, 

 which immediately overlooks the town of Santa Rosa. 

 A new proprietor had bought a tract of land on the 

 left bank of the river, and erected very substantial 

 fences rather troublesome to a trespasser. My so- 

 called guide dropped behind as I began to ascend the 

 hill — only five or six hundred feet in height — finally 

 turned back, and, having deposited my goods at the 

 hotel, claimed and received an ill-earned fee. The 

 stony slopes were utterly parched, yet I found a few 

 botanical novelties. A small shrubby composite with 

 prickly leaves, but with the habit and inflorescence of 

 a Baccharis, was still in tolerable condition. I took it 

 for the female plant of some species of that charac- 

 teristic South American dioecious genus ; but I after- 

 wards ascertained that it belonged to a completely 

 different group, namely, the Mutisiacece, being the 

 Proustia baccJiaroides of Don. 



The view from the summit of the Cerro towards 

 the Andean range was not equal to that from San 

 Felipe, but on the opposite side the outlook towards 

 the plain was interesting. The contrast between the 

 zone of cultivation in the low lands accessible to 



