22 FROM MENDOZA TO SAN LIHS DE LA PUNTA. 



muddy, but very readily settles when taken out for drinking pur^joses; differing in this respect 

 from that of the Mendoza, which requires to be filtered before use. 



December 8. — The first part of the day was rainy, and, as we were very comfortable under the 

 motherly care of the Seiiora Aldao, we were in no haste to depart; but abo.ut nine o'clock in 

 the morning it cleared away in part, and we took our leave. On mounting I discovered that 

 my saddle-girths were entirely too large for the mule ; but being assured of her perfect gentle- 

 ness, I concluded to make them answer till we reached our next stopping-place. So, "making 

 mvself light," I jumped into the saddle without using the stirrups, and set out in fine spirits; 

 these, however, were not destined to last me all day. 



From the Barrial, travelling through almost continuous lines of Lombardy poplars and fields, 

 for about five miles, brought us to another scattering settlement, called "El Ketamo;" and six 

 miles farther, through the same class of country, to San Isidro, a counterpart of the Retamo — 

 the existence of a shop where aguardiente and knick-knacks are sold appearing to establish the 

 identity of a place, or rather of a name. 



In connection with the rows of poplars which form one of the distinctive features of the 

 country around Santiago and Mendoza, it is worthy of remark that the first were brought to this 

 country about the year 1810; and from this original stock they have been transplanted and 

 propagated to such an extent, that they have become the principal ornaments, and, as this is 

 almost the only wood known, it is one of the most useful i?roductions of middle Chile and 

 Mendoza. 



At about twenty miles from San Isidro we arrived at an estate called Santa Rosa, having a 

 good dwelling-house and several ranches about it, where we stopped for the night. It is two 

 miles north of the Tunuyan, and is watered by a ditch cut from that stream. 



For the first few miles the road leads through a jDartially cultivated country, and after- 

 wards through one open, uncultivated, and thinly wooded with small, thorny trees, called 

 Chaiiares, the highest of which scarcely exceeds twelve feet. On leaving the cultivated country 

 we passed a small stream running to the southward, which is singular, because all the rest we 

 had seen ran to the northward. This one is the surplus waters from the fields above, which is 

 thus returned to the Tunuyan. I mention this to show the flatness of the country. 



About half an hour after leaving San Isidro I checked my mule, and took out a map, for 

 the purpose of examining whether the road corresponded with it or not. The wind set the 

 paper to rattling^ which frightened the animal to such an extent that she ran away. For fear 

 of coming into collision with the burden-mules, among which she was running, I turned out of 

 the road, sawing on the bridle, at the same time, to bring her up ; but the saddle-girths being 

 too long, the more I pulled the more the saddle went to her neck, and she eventually stum- 

 bled over a bush — myself, the mule, and saddle, going down together, head foremost. I had an 

 indistinct recollection of seeing any number of stars and mule's heels playing about me ; and on 

 recovering from the stunning effects of the fall, found that I had been kicked lightly on the 

 head and ankle, but severely on the knee. The rest of the day's journey was painful enough, 

 but was performed on a very gentle horse. This was my third misfortune, or mismanagement, 

 for by it I broke the barometer tube into a thousand pieces. 



One of the old women about Santa Rosa was kind enough to rub my knee, at night, and 

 bind it up in salt and aguardiente, which reduced the swelling somewhat before morning. 



It may be as well to remark, here, that the distances I have or may set down, in crossing 

 from Mendoza, are merely estimated by the time occupied in accomplishing them, allowing, 

 generally, about four miles an hour to the regular walk of the mules ; but these distances are 

 considerably exaggerated, partly from over-estimate, but principally from the sinuosities of the 

 road. 



December 0. — Set out at 5.30 A. M., and travelled twenty miles to the east-southeastward, 

 through a country cultivated in some parts, but generally thinly wooded with Chauares and Reta- 

 mos. At the distance of two miles passed the post-house of Santa Rosa ; at six miles a raucho ; and 



