238 JOURNAL. 



Director readily led the conversation to the affairs of Chile, and to 

 the events of his own life. * Of the recent affairs in Peru (the dis- 

 placing Monteagudo, &c.) he expressed himself with regret, consider- 

 ing that minister's conduct, and the consequences of it, as a stain on 

 the o-ood cause. I wish I had dared to hint, that a conduct as bad, 

 though in a different way, in Rodriguez, his own minister, was pro- 

 ducing effects at least as vexatious here. 



We walked a good deal about the gardens, and amused ourselves 

 for some time with a fine telescope ; through which the Director 

 pointed out to me many farms on the plain of Maypu, in the line 

 of the canal of irrigation which he has made since he was Director, 

 where all was formerly barren, and behind whose thickets robbers 

 and murderers concealed themselves, so that the roads were unsafe. 

 These ruffians have now disappeared, and peaceful farms occupy the 

 ground. From the garden we went in to dinner, where all was plain 

 and handsome. English neatness gave the Chileno dishes every thing 

 I had ever thought wanting in them. Dona Isabella, Doha Rosa, 

 Doha Xaviera the Director's niece a beautiful young woman, and 

 one aide-de-camp, besides ourselves, formed the whole party. The 

 little Indians had a low table in the corner, where the little daugh- 

 ter of the Cacique presided ; and where they were served with as 

 much respect as Dona Rosa herself. The entrance of some strangers 

 after dinner put an end to all confidential intercourse ; and I then 

 walked about the house with Dona Isabella. The ladies' bed-rooms 

 are neat and comfortable every way. The Director, when here, 

 sleeps on a little portable camp-bed ; and to judge by his room, is 

 not very studious of personal accommodation. At sunset we re- 

 turned to town, and at the same time His Excellency's family went 

 thither also to attend the opera, which Dona Rosa never misses. 

 Their equipage is English ; and though plain, handsome. 



* By his permission, I have made use of this conversation in the sketch of the History 

 of Chile. 



