April, 1835. PASSAGE OP CORDILLERA. 415 



after escaping from the cold regions above : and I am sure 

 I most heartily participated in such feelings. 



8th. — We left the valley of the river of Aconcagua, by 

 which we had descended, and reached in the evening a 

 cottage near the Villa de St. Rosa. The fertihty of the 

 plain was extremely delightful. The autumn being well 

 advanced, the leaves of many of the fruit-trees were falling ; 

 and of the labourers — some were busy in drying figs and 

 peaches on the roofs of their cottages ; while others were 

 gathering the grapes from the vineyards. It was a pretty 

 scene ; but that pensive stillness was absent, which makes 

 the autumn in England indeed the evening of the year. 



On the 10th we reached Santiago, where I experienced 

 a very kind and hospitable reception from Mr. Caldcleugh. 

 My excursion only cost me twenty-four days, and never did 

 I more deeply enjoy an equal space of time. A few days 

 afterwards I returned to Mr. Corfield's house at Valparaiso. 



