ANGOSTURA DE PAINE. 24] 
runs rapidly from a projecting branch of the cordillera, which ad- 
vances here so as almost to meet the Cerro de Penigue, and forms the 
narrow pass, or Angostura de Paine, commonly called here I’ Angostura, 
through which the road leads to Rancagua. From Paine, where there 
is a post-house, the road is bordered on each side with magnificent 
trees, chiefly maytenes ; and country-houses and rich plantations take 
place of the wide and wild plain we had passed. One of the finest 
estates belongs to the hospital of San Juan de Deos, and is rented by 
one of the Valdezes; and there we turned off the main road to 
follow the course of a beautiful river which flows out of the pass, 
and is therefore commonly called the Rio de l’Angostura. We 
passed some haciendas of Erreda’s and Solar’s, and then arrived at 
that of Salinas, where we were most kindly received by both master 
and mistress: she is the eldest daughter of my host and hostess, the 
widow of the unfortunate Juan José Carrera, who I trust has found 
in her second marriage some compensation for the sufferings endured 
during the first. She has one of the most beautiful faces I ever 
beheld: an eye both to entreat and to command; and a mouth 
which neither painter or sculptor, in his imagined Hebes or Graces, 
could equal. Her age is now only twenty-five; her countenance 
would say seventeen; and as [ stood a moment entranced by her 
beauty, and remembered her story, I doubted whether I had not 
suddenly dreamed of things that romances only had hitherto brought 
me familiar with. Don Justo is a fine well-looking young man, two 
years younger than his wife. They were not a little delighted to 
see their brother and sister; but their welcome was almost as kind 
to Mr. de Roos and me. 
The evening was excessively cold, a brisk wind from the mountain 
having set in; and we all crowded round the brassero, which was 
placed in the corner of a very pretty drawing-room, till supper was 
served, about nine o’clock; and we were complimented on having 
ridden well, as the distance from the city is upwards of fourteen 
leagues, which we had done in nine hours with the same horses, 
an] 
