242 JOURNAL. 



including two hours' rest, which we had given our steeds, and some 

 time wasted in mending my stirrup, which broke on the road. 



10th. — Breakfast in Chile is usually at a latish hour, and con- 

 sists sometimes of soup, or meat and wine ; but every body takes 

 matee or chocolate at their bed side. Dona Ana Maria, aware how 

 different our customs are, sent tea, bread and butter, and eggs, to my 

 room, for Mr. de Roos and me. I ought to describe the house. The 

 outer door opens into the principal bed-room, which is the common 

 sitting-room. On one side is a dressing-closet, and the nursery 

 for the two little boys ; on the other, the drawing-room ; and beyond 

 that the dining-room, a light cheerful apartment. A veranda runs 

 along the front ; and from it other apartments enter, such as Salinas' 

 own room, and bed-rooms for guests. Dona Rosario and I occupied 

 one, and Don Jose Antonio and Mr. de Roos another. But the 

 privacy of bed-rooms is not respected in Chile as in England ; so I 

 find an additional advantage in my habit of rising early, as it anti- 

 cipates intrusion. Great part of the day is passed in the veranda ; 

 and I do not wonder at it, the air is so pleasant and the view so fine. 

 In the course of the day I saw almost the whole farm ; and first I 

 went into the vineyards. The principal one is two quadras, about 

 the sixth of a mile, square : the vines are supported on stakes, and 

 are pruned down to five feet in height. The soil between the rows 

 is not annually loosened, as in Italy, but only once in twenty or 

 thirty years the roots are laid open and trimmed. From the vine- 

 yard we proceeded to the orchard, where there are walnuts, peaches, 

 plums, apricots, pears, and cherries, only beginning to blossom ; be- 

 cause, besides that we are now nearly a degree farther to the south, 

 we are nearer the mountain here, and more exposed to the chilly 

 winds. From the orchard we went to look at the cows, which are 

 very fine ; the calves are beautiful. But the dairy is very ill managed 

 here : with sixteen fine milch cows they do not make twelve pounds 

 of butter a week ; nay, sometimes not above half that quantity ; 

 and the quantity of cheese is inconsiderable, though both the butter 



