ROAD TO MELIPILLA. 257 
which are very rapid, and whose fords are perpetually changing. 
About five leagues beyond the ford, we came to the beautiful village 
of Longuien, where the road lies between a mountain and two little 
knolls that project from it: the place is very populous, and seems 
thriving. The hills on both sides abound with projecting rocks, 
whose heads form platforms, each occupied by its cottage and garden ; 
all the fences and ditches are in excellent order, and we even found 
well-hung gates. Through one of these we passed, and ascended the 
highest of the two knolls above mentioned, on the very summit of 
which is the house of Tagle, the first president of the convention: 
it is a mere country lodge, with some pretensions to taste ; but it is 
chiefly delightful for its view, extending all over the rich valley 
through which the Maypu flows. On one hand lies the high ridge 
of the mountains of St. Michael; on the other, that of which Cho- 
colan — stupendous, if the Andes were not in sight —is the highest 
peak. There is little corn in this part of the country, but that little 
is fine ; and the vines and olives are few. The chief produce between 
this place and Melipilla being butter, cheese, hides, tallow, and 
charqui ; the banks of the Maypu are entirely occupied by pasture 
lands. We sat nearly an hour at Longuien to rest our horses, and 
to eat a luncheon we had brought with us. While we were thus 
occupied, we saw in the fields below the whole business of the rodeo 
going on in a corral just beneath the house; the separating and 
marking the cattle, and taking up the calves from the mothers. 
From Longuien to the town of San Francisco de Monte the road 
lies through a thicket of the espina or yellow scented mimosa, which 
affords not only the best fuel in the country, but shelter for the cattle, 
without injuring the quality of the grass beneath. Near San Fran- 
cisco we crossed the Mapocho, after its re-appearance from the hills 
of St. Michael’s, on its way to join the Maypu; it really is a beauti- 
ful stream, and I do not wonder at the favour with which it is 
regarded on account of the sweetness, clearness, and lightness of its 
waters. A number of asequias or leads are taken from it here for 
LL 
