128 RAMBLES AFTER SPORT. 



stujffed object made out of red cloth^ sometliing between 

 a crocodile and a griffin^ with two huge glass beads for 

 its eyes,, one green and tbe other red. By the side of 

 these, and apparently contemplating the scene with 

 great contentment^ was a large wax figure dressed in full 

 ballet costume, pink silk stockings, boots, &c., all com- 

 plete, and balanced on the extreme tip of her left foot in 

 what I considered rather an indecent posture — rather can- 

 can-y in fact. On inquiring of an attendant who this 

 person might be, he expressed himself highly surprised 

 and explained, with many a cross and ^' jpor Dios/' that 

 she was the Holy Mother, and furthermore added that 

 a few centavos for her benefit would be highly accept- 

 able. 



I don't know that I have anything more to say about 

 Santiago except its situation and scenery, and this, like 

 the P.S. in a letter, is worth all the rest put together. 

 Out of the midst of the city there rises a hill called the 

 Santa Lucia ; up this I was never weary of going, and 

 oh what a view you get ! I think it is one of the very 

 finest I ever saw. I do not believe in describing scenery, 

 and, for the matter of that, no one ever did describe it 

 QY can — that is, to give an idea of it to persons who have 

 never seen it ; but I wish I could describe that view. 

 On one side lay the city, its convent spires, gardens^ 

 walks, and plazas gilded with the mellow rays of the 

 settino- sun ; away beyond stretched broad fields waving 

 with the ripening corn, and dotted here and there with 

 a church or farm; the popular groves nodded their 

 quivering heads to the gentle breeze, and away through 

 all ran the river glittering like a sword. To the east the 

 giants of the Cordillera barred the way, covered with 

 snow, blood-red in the setting sun — but I might go on 



