398 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



of an hour, we doubted much whether we would manage to 

 catch it, and anxiously watched for any symptom of its moving 

 as we rattled down the hill and plunged through the mud of 

 the valley. Arrived at the station, we dashed out of the 

 coach in between the two trains, and into an empty carriage, 

 apparently much to the amazement of the phlegmatic 

 Chilians, who were watching our movements. In a few 

 minutes, as the train still remained stationary, we bethought 

 ourselves of the advisability of procuring tickets, and one of 

 the party then got out to endeavour to obtain them, running 

 in the first place along to the engine and telling the stokers to 

 "hold on the train," receiving in answer an "Ay, ay, sir," for 

 the officials were English. Our object was successfully accom- 

 plished, and soon after we left Llaillai behind us, and reached 

 Valparaiso at about five p.m., having enjoyed a most delight- 

 ful trip. 



Some days after this Dr. Campbell and I had a pleasant 

 walk, under the guidance of two of the officers of H.M.S. 

 " Topaze," over the hills behind Valparaiso, to some beautiful 

 little green quebradas at the back of them. Here we met 

 with several plants that we had not observed previously, as 

 well as several old friends, among which was the handsome 

 blue-berried Citharexylon cyanocarpum, so common in Chiloe, 

 and the Winter's-bark {Drimys Winteri, var. Chilensis), which 

 was flowering most luxuriantly. A barberry, with curiously 

 palmated prickles (B. actinacantha ?), a yellow - flowered 

 Bibes (B. jpunctatum), an Escallonia, with the Boldu, the Titpa 

 salicifolia, and the Litre {Litrea venenosa), were among the 

 prevailing shrubby plants. The two last are both possessed of 

 highly poisonous properties, the former abounding in a milky 

 acrid juice, and the latter having the reputation of causing 

 swellings on the bodies of those who gather it, or even sit 



