212 JOURNAL. 
been the festival of their saint; and what with that and the vigil, 
the lady abbess and her nuns were so fatigued, having been singing 
all day and part of the night, that they could not receive us. The 
note containing this disagreeable news reached us when we were all 
dressed and ready for walking ; so we went to visit the ladies Godoy, 
in whose house Judge Prevost lives. These ladies are near relations 
of Madame Cotapos, and are extremely lively and agreeable. We 
sat chatting in the inner pateo or garden, which looks like every 
thing romancers and travellers tell us is Moorish ; and had matee 
brought to us by some pretty little Indian girls, very nicely dressed ; 
and then we adjourned to the house, which has lately assumed in 
its fire-places, and other comforts, a very European air. We had 
a little music here, and then walked home ; my friends as usual with- 
out hats or veils, and in their satin shoes. 
In the intervals between the disappointments occasioned by St. 
Austin, I went into the large and handsome church formerly belong- 
ing to the Jesuits, where the troops were assembled to hear Mass ; 
and their military music joined to the solemn organ had a fine effect. 
I also went into the cathedral, having put on a mantilla for the pur- 
pose, as bonnets are not allowed to appear in church. ‘The interior 
of the building is very handsome, though unfinished. There is some 
rich plate, particularly a fine chased altar-piece. 
29th of August, 1822. — A party, consisting of Judge Prevost, who 
is always ready to promote my wish of seeing every thing curious in 
Chile, Mr. de Roos, Doiia Mariquita Cotapos, Don Jose Antonio Co- 
tapos, and some young Englishmen, rode out to see the Salta de 
Agua, the only remaining work of the ancient Caciques in the neigh- 
bourhood. We crossed the handsome stone bridge built by Ambrose 
O’Higgins over the Mapocho ; and, after passing through the suburb 
La Chimba*, we proceeded to the powder-mills, now in a ruined state. 
They were wrought by water; the machinery clumsy and dangerous, 
the mixture being pounded in stone mortars instead of ground. 
These works, which had cost the government of Old Spain a prodi- 
* The Chimba is famous for an excellent brewery, and for curing bacon. 
