THE BATHS OF CAUQUENES. 173 



all on the ground floor, disposed round a very large 

 quadrangle. The rooms are spacious and sufficiently 

 furnished, and I was struck by the fact that there is 

 no fastening whatever to the doors, which usually 

 stand ajar. This speaks at once for the constant 

 apprehension of earthquakes that seems to haunt the 

 Chilian mind, and for the general honesty of the 

 people, amongst whom theft is almost unknown. 

 Besides some additional rooms in wings adjoining the 

 great court, the baths are an annexe overhanging the 

 river, to which you descend by broad flights of stairs. 

 A large handsome hall, lighted from above, has the 

 bath-rooms ranged on either side, all exquisitely clean 

 and attractive. The adjoining ground, planted mainly 

 with native trees, is limited in extent. A narrow and 

 deep ravine, cut through the rocky slope of the ad- 

 joining hill, is traversed by one of those slight wire 

 suspension bridges common in this country, that swing 

 so far under the steps of the passenger as to disquiet 

 the unaccustomed stranger. The views gained from 

 below up the rugged and stern valley of the Cachapoal 

 are naturally limited, but the rather steep hills rising 

 above the baths promised a wider prospect towards 

 the great range of the Cordillera, and did not dis- 

 appoint expectation. 



The autumn season being now far advanced, the 

 guests at the establishment were few — about twenty in 

 all. After supper they assembled in a drawing-room 

 and adjoining music-room. I was struck not only 

 by the general tone of courtesy and good-breeding of 

 the party, but by the fact that several of them at least 

 were well-informed men, taking an intelligent interest 



