THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 395 



engaged in lassoing a wild ox, which made violent efforts to 

 gore their horses, but was successfully captured without 

 inflicting any damage upon them. On our way back to 

 the town, as we were approaching a cottage, three men 

 marched out to meet us with a hornful of liquid, which we 

 were informed was " chicha " and which we were requested 

 to drink. Complying with this invitation, we found the said 

 chicha most refreshingly acid, and very grateful to our 

 parched palates. We reached the hotel in time for the table- 

 d'hote at five o'clock. A number of people were gathered 

 round the table when we arrived, and in a few minutes after, 

 a self-important looking individual, probably the Intendente 

 of the town, or some other local dignitary, came in, and took 

 his place at the head of the table, all the guests, with the 

 exception of ourselves, standing up to receive him. In con- 

 formity with Chilian customs, a large number of courses 

 were handed round, some eight or nine at the least I should 

 think, and the landlord, to do honour to his English guests, 

 produced a bottle of Worcester sauce, which was examined 

 by the other members of the company with much curiosity. 

 Some hours later, our Chilian acquaintance of the day before 

 came to pay his respects, and the artist of our party ex- 

 hibited the sketches which he had taken that day. One of 

 the spectators was a young Chilian, who spoke very good 

 English, and gave us much information about the country, 

 kindly offering, rather to my amusement, to furnish me with 

 introductions to some of his friends in the neighbourhood of 

 Chilian, although he was entirely ignorant of my name. 

 After strolling about the Plaza for a short time, listening to 

 the music of a very good military band, we retired for the 

 night, anxiously hoping for a fine day on the morrow for our 

 ride to " II Cerro de los Indios." 



