ROAD TO SANTIAGO. 193 



and herds of cattle were grazing on it ; but it wants trees. At the 

 end of the plain there is a second post-house ; beyond which we en- 

 tered a winding road, through a hilly ridge that separates the Llanos 

 de la Pefiuela from those of Casablanca. The pastoral and pictur- 

 esque appearance of this pass reminded us of Devonshire, — the same 

 grassy hills, and small shaded streams, and groups of cattle. Beyond 

 the pass, a strait and perfectly flat road of about twelve miles leads 

 to Casablanca. The plain on either side is nearly covered with es- 

 pinella, or mimosa, whose fragrant sessile flowers just coming into 

 blossom perfume the whole atmosphere ; and the earth is almost 

 carpeted with thrift, wood-anemone, Oenothera white blue and yellow, 

 star of Bethlehem, saxifrage, and an endless variety of mallows and 

 minute geraniums. But it is yet too early for the most beautiful 

 part of the Flora of Chile. 



Casablanca is a mean little town, with one church, a governor, and 

 several justices, and sends a member to the convention. It is famous 

 for its butter and other products of the dairy ; but derives its chief 

 importance from being the only town on the road between the port 

 and the city, and also the place at which the produce, whether for 

 home consumption or exportation, from several neighbouring districts 

 is collected, before it proceeds either to the city or to Valparaiso. 

 One long street and a square constitute the town, but the greater 

 part of the population of the parish resides in the farms in the neigh- 

 bourhood. The square is not unlike a village green ; the little 

 church stands on one side, two inns and a few cottages and gardens 

 occupy the other three ; and, in the centre, an annual bull-fight 

 takes place, on so diminutive a scale that the people of Santiago 

 thought it a fit subject for ridicule, and, accordingly, to the no small 

 annoyance of the natives, they brought out a farce on the stage 

 called the " Bull-fight of Casablanca." I do not know whether 

 Casablanca has any other literary claim to notice excepting, per- 

 haps, the chapter in Vancouver's Voyages where he mentions the 

 building of the houses precisely the same with that of Valpa- 

 raiso, and there, I think, says that his party taught the people 



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