SANTIAGO. 203 
blue as black, good teeth, and as for their complexion, —the red 
and white. “ Nature’s own pure and cunning hand” never laid on 
finer, — but, alas! “ liberal not lavish is kind nature’s hand;” and these 
pretty creatures have generally harsh rough voices, and about the 
throats of some there is that fulness that denotes that goitres are 
not uncommon. 
26th. —'This morning, on looking out soon after day-break, I saw 
the provisions coming into town for the market. The beef cut in 
quarters, the mutton in halves, was mounted on horseback before a 
man or boy, who, in his poncho, sat as near the tail of the horse as 
possible. I°owls in large grated chests of hide came slung on mules. 
Eggs, butter, milk, cheese, and vegetables, all rode, no Chileno con- 
descending to walk, especially with a burden, unless in case of dire 
necessity ; and as the strings of beasts so laden came along one way, I 
saw women enveloped in their mantos, and carrying their alfombras 
and missals, going to mass another. 
The cries in the streets are nearly as unintelligible as those in 
London, and, with the exception of Sweep and Old Clothes, concern 
the same articles. Judge Prevost came in soon after breakfast 
and settled my mode of paying my respects to Dofia Rosa O’ Higgins 
in the evening. It appears that to walk even to a next-door neigh- 
bour on occasions of ceremony is so undignified, that I must not 
think of it, therefore I go in a chaise belonging to the family where 
I live, and two of the ladies will accompany me. This last proposal 
I own startled me. They are of one of the best families here; but 
a daughter was married to a Carrera: they were all partizans of Car- 
rera, and more than one have been implicated in conspiracies against 
the present government: nay, it is said against the Director’s life ; 
and I know that no intercourse of a friendly nature, notwithstanding 
the good-natured wishes of Mr. Prevost, has as yet taken place be- 
tween the palace and the house of Catapos. If Iam the means of 
spreading peace, so much the better, though I perhaps would rather 
know openly the use to be made of me. 
ppg 
