ROAD TO SANTIAGO. 193 
and herds of cattle were grazing on it; but it wants trees. At the 
end of the plain there is a second post-house ; beyond which we en- 
tered a winding road, through a hilly ridge that separates the Llanos 
de la Pejiuela from those of Casablanca. The pastoral and pictur- 
esque appearance of this pass reminded us of Devonshire,—the same 
grassy hills, and small shaded streams, and groups of cattle. Beyond 
the pass, a strait and perfectly flat road of about twelve miles leads 
to Casablanca. The plain on either side is nearly covered with es- 
pinella, or mimosa, whose fragrant sessile flowers just coming into 
blossom perfume the whole atmosphere; and the earth is almost 
carpeted with thrift, wood-anemone, cenothera white blue and yellow, 
star of Bethlehem, saxifrage, and an endless variety of mallows and 
minute geraniums. But it is yet too early for the most beautiful 
part of the Flora of Chile. 
Casablanca is a mean little town, with one church, a governor, and 
several justices, and sends a member to the convention. It is famous 
for its butter and other products of the dairy ; but derives its chief 
importance from being the only town on the road between the port 
and the city, and also the place at which the produce, whether for 
home consumption or exportation, from several neighbouring districts 
is collected, before it proceeds either to the city or to Valparaiso. 
One long street and a square constitute the town, but the greater 
part of the population of the parish resides in the farms in the neigh- 
bourhood. The square is not unlike a village green; the little 
church stands on one side, two inns and a few cottages and gardens 
occupy the other three; and, in the centre, an annual bull-fight 
takes place, on so diminutive a scale that the people of Santiago 
thought it a fit subject for ridicule, and, accordingly, to the no small 
annoyance of the natives, they brought out a farce on the stage 
called the “ Bull-fight of Casablanca.” I do not know whether 
Casablanca has any other literary claim to notice excepting, per- 
haps, the chapter in Vancouver’s Voyages where he mentions the 
building of the houses precisely the same with that of Valpa- 
raiso, and there, I think, says that his party taught the people 
ee 
