260 JOURNAL. 
But as it is, all these articles find their way by the expensive and 
circuitous in-land roads of Santiago, Casa Blanca, and Valparaiso. It 
is to be regretted, that the old Spanish principles still regulate all 
these things, to the great injury of foreign commerce and the utter 
destruction of internal traffic. 
I fancy the Melipillans had never seen an Englishwoman before, 
the court of our house being absolutely crowded with men, women, 
and children; among whom I found that my close cap and black 
dress made me pass for a nun of some foreign order. I went out 
and spoke to them, and explained who I was, and we were soon re- 
lieved from all but those who insisted on staying to admire the rubio, 
(fair man,) as they called Mr. de Roos, whose golden locks and bright 
complexion are objects of universal admiration here. The fore-court 
of our lodging is surrounded by workmen’s sheds of different de- 
scriptions ; so that when the family requires a job done, the workman 
and his tools are hired for the day or the week, and he finds his 
workshop fitted up. The back-court is open to a very good garden, 
and there the kitchen and other out-houses are situated. After 
breakfast we went out to see the town, which is built on the same 
plan as Santiago; that is, all the streets perfectly straight at right 
angles. Nearly in the centre is the Iglesia Matriz, on one side of a 
considerable square ; another side is occupied by the house of the 
governor Don T. Valdez, and the barracks adjoining. The govern- 
ment house, like every other in the town, has a dull air; because 
towards the squares and streets, there is only a dead wall with a large 
gate, the house being within a court. And Melipilla is peculiarly 
sombre; because, excepting the public buildings, which are white- 
washed, they are all of the natural colour of the clay of which the 
unburnt building-bricks are formed. Melipilla has still its annual 
bull-fights, which are held in the great square; but it has no other 
place of public amusement, not even a public walk. The church of 
St. Austin and that of the Merced are the only ones besides the 
great church; but there are a few private chapels belonging to the 
