THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 409 



cure tliem. The " cuesta" passed, we proceeded onwards to 

 the railway station at " Higuerita/' where we were met by a 

 gentleman (Mr. Hamilton) who had kindly undertaken to act 

 as our cicerone on the trip ; and after we had partaken of a 

 substantial breakfast or luncheon provided by a hospitable 

 Chilian, we mounted our horses, which we had brought with 

 us from Coquimbo, and rode off to Samo, a farm about twelve 

 miles distant, in the valley of the Eio Hortado, in the hands 

 of a Chilian gentleman, Senor Sasso. After riding for the 

 greater part of the way along a winding road, and crossing 

 two streams (a sufficiently rare phenomenon in this parched-up 

 district to be worthy of notice), we ascended to a sort of table- 

 land, which we crossed, descending thereafter by a winding road 

 into the valley of the Eio Hortado, which, though sufficiently 

 arid-looking regarded as a whole, possesses a green tract ex- 

 tending on either side of the stream from which it derives its 

 name, and which on this occasion presented an attractive 

 appearance, from the various shades of the foliage of the 

 willows, olives, and myrtles fringing its banks, and the 

 lovely pink glow of the peach-blossom in the orchards. 

 We reached the farm about five p.m., and passed some time 

 roaming about in the neighbourhood of the stream, two of the 

 party carrying guns in quest of snipe. A few of these birds 

 were seen flying about at a considerable elevation in the air, 

 as well as some " zorzals " {Turdus fuscatus) and " tortil- 

 litos " (little doves), but they were all very shy, so that few 

 were obtained. Before long Senor Sasso made his appearance, 

 and we were then conducted by him to his house, which, with 

 the farm-offices, occupies three sides of a large square, and 

 installed in the guest-chamber, provided with four iron 

 beds ranged around the walls. Eefreshments in the form of 

 beer and cognac were brought to us, and soon after we were 



