28 FROM MENDOZA TO SAN LUIS DE LA PUNTA. 



Cochineal is gathered in small quantities in the neighborhood, and sold, I think, very cheap, 

 as an old woman brought a cake of it, about the size of my hand, into the shop of a Chilean, 

 while I was present, and sold it for twelve and a half cents' worth of goods. It is, however, 

 only collected by the lazy peasants, when they have necessity for a little yerba (tea of Paraguay) 

 or tobacco. 



About fifty miles to the northward of the town, and in the range of hills at whose point it is 

 situated, are the gold mines of "La Carolina," which were formerly worked very successfully, 

 but are now nearly abandoned — there being no one about them except a few natives, who live 

 in wretched hovels, and collect only gold enough by washing to cover their actual expenses. 



