260 JOURNAL. 



But as it is, all these articles find their way by the expensive and 

 circuitous in-land roads of Santiago, Casa Blanca, and Valparaiso. It 

 is to be regretted, that the old Spanish principles still regulate all 

 these things, to the great injury of foreign commerce and the utter 

 destruction of internal traffic. 



I fancy the Melipillans had never seen an Englishwoman before, 

 the court of our house being absolutely crowded with men, women, 

 and children ; among whom I found that my close cap and black 

 dress made me pass for a nun of some foi'eign order. I went out 

 and spoke to them, and explained who I was, and we were soon re- 

 lieved from all but those who insisted on staying to admire the rubio, 

 (fair man,) as they called Mr. de Roos, whose golden locks and bright 

 complexion are objects of universal admiration here. The fore-court 

 of our lodging is surrounded by workmen's sheds of different de- 

 scriptions ; so that when the family requires a job done, the workman 

 and his tools are hired for the day or the week, and he finds his 

 workshop fitted up. The back-court is open to a very good garden, 

 and there the kitchen and other out-houses are situated. After 

 breakfast we went out to see the town, which is built on the same 

 plan as Santiago ; that is, all the streets perfectly straight at right 

 angles. Nearly in the centre is the Iglesia Matriz, on one side of a 

 considerable square ; another side is occupied by the house of the 

 governor Don T. Valdez, and the barracks adjoining. The govern- 

 ment house, like every other in the town, has a dull air ; because 

 towards the squares and streets, there is only a dead wall with a large 

 gate, the house being within a court. And Melipilla is peculiarly 

 sombre; because, excepting the public buildings, which are white- 

 washed, they are all of the natural colour of the clay of which the 

 unburnt building-bricks are formed. Melipilla has still its annual 

 bull-fights, which are held in the great square ; but it has no other 

 place of public amusement, not even a public walk. The church of 

 St. Austin and that of the Merced are the only ones besides the 

 great church ; but there are a few private chapels belonging to the 



