158 JOURNAL. 



20th. — To-day, being anxious to procure a variety of scene for 

 my young friend, we walked to what is usually called the flower- 

 garden here, and I, at least, highly enjoyed the day. On reaching 

 the house of the mistress of the garden, we found her seated on the 

 brick bench before the door. She appears very old : her hair, which 

 fell in a single braid down her back, being perfectly grey. She is 

 tall and hale-looking, and soon summoned three of her five daughters 

 to receive us. The youngest of these appeared to be at least fifty, 

 tall, muscular, well made, with the remains of decided beauty, with 

 an elastic step and agreeable voice : they stepped forward bearing 

 carpets for us to sit on, and oranges to refresh us. The other two, 

 of scarcely less imposing appearance, joined us, and invited us to walk 

 into the garden. As yet none of the cultivated flowers appear, but 

 the taste of these women has adorned their arboleda, or orchard, of 

 peach, cherry, and plum, with all the wild flowers of the neigh- 

 bourhood, some of which grow almost into the little stream that 

 runs through the grounds, and others twine up the stems of the fruit 

 trees now beginning to blossom. I wish, however, all this was more 

 neatly kept. Even Eve weeded her garden, and Adam was com- 

 manded to dress as well as to dig the ground. They showed us a 

 beautiful green spot, in a recess formed by two hills, where the 

 young and pretty Lady Cochrane used to bring her parties to dine, 

 and enjoy the country scenery. Her gaiety and liveliness seemed to 

 have produced a strong impression on the natives, who talk of her 

 with admiration and regret. On returning to the house we passed 

 through the more private garden, and I saw, for the first time, the 

 lucuma (Achrces Lucumo), a fruit rare here, but sufficiently abundant 

 in Coquimbo, and which flourishes well in Quillota. The seed, 

 which resembles a chesnut, is enveloped in a pulp, like the med- 

 lar in substance, and of an agreeable sweetish flavour. There is 

 also the chirimoya, (an Anonna, *) so famous in Peru ; it is a better 

 kind of custard apple, and the trees bear a strong resemblance to 



* One of the coadunatas of Linnseus's natural method. 



