228 JOURNAL. 
We seated ourselves in one of the verandas, and ate the luncheon 
we had brought with us; and I was so cold that I was glad to drink 
the warm water from the spring with my wine, and warm my hands 
in it. While the horses were getting ready, Dofia Mariquita and 
I had the curiosity to enter one of the rooms which we found open, 
and dearly we paid for our curiosity ; for we were instantly covered 
with myriads of fleas, who I suppose had had no fresh food for 
several months, for they attacked us so unmercifully, that I thought 
I had some violent eruption on my skin. After we had mounted 
and reached the little knoll behind the chapel, I stood a moment 
to look back at the tenantless houses, deserted fane, bare bleak 
banks, and now darkly lowering clouds ; so different from the cheer- 
ful character which I have been told belongs to it in summer, when 
the sick and old who come in quest of health and vigour, bear a 
small proportion to the young and strong who come in search of 
pleasure or beauty, which last the Colinas waters are firmly believed 
to bestow: but though Dojia Mariquita and I applied them to our 
faces, we were not sensible of any change; and so had no fairy tales 
to tell after our journey. As soon as we quitted the gorge, instead 
of pursuing the road back to the city, we turned to the right; and 
after a gallop of three leagues arrived at the village of Colinas, 
the first stage from St. Iago to Mendoza, and about half way between 
the city and the famous field of Chacabuco. 
About half a mile beyond the church of Colinas is the hacienda 
of Don Jorge Godoy, with whose lady and daughter I am well ac- 
quainted. There we were to sleep, and so return home in the morn- 
ing. We found the old gentleman sitting at his door after the fa- 
tigues of the day in his cap and slippers, and poncho. He very rarely 
goes to town, but resides here with his nephew, like a patriarch in 
the midst of his husbandmen. It began to rain heavily, to the credit 
of St. Isidore, as soon as we got into the house; and we congratu- 
lated ourselves on being sheltered from the storm, and having the 
comfort of a huge brassero of coals, and sheepskins laid under our 
