198 CHILL 
the pumice into aquadiente of the country. The stills were of the 
simplest construction, being nothing more than a number of large 
earthen pots, holding from eighty to one hundred gallons, placed in 
the ground over a long narrow oven. Instead of a worm, a straight 
pipe of copper is used, about twenty feet long, one of these was 
inserted into each pot or jar, and to effect the condensation, a stream 
of water from the river was led so as to pass over them. All their 
agricultural implements are equally rude and primitive. Their 
ploughs are nothing more than a crooked stick, with the share end 
pointed, and hardened by charring. Notwithstanding these disad- 
vantages, they are enabled to raise large crops, and bring their farms 
into tolerable condition. 
In the evening they had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Newman, who 
returned, and his reception was, if possible, even more kind than 
that of his good lady. Learning that our gentlemen wished to visit 
some of the mines in the neighbourhood, he immediately made ar- 
rangement to send his agent to his own establishment, five leagues 
beyond San Felipe, and provided them horses and mules, in order 
that their own might recruit for their return journey. The tempera- 
ture at San Felipe varied, between noon and 10 p. m., from 63° to 49°. 
The night was remarkably clear and fine, 
The next morning they started, with Mr. George Alderson, for the 
mines, which are near the summit of the first Cordillera, on the 
Mendoza road, and about three thousand feet above the level of the 
sea. They were here informed that in consequence of the late heavy 
falls of snow, the roads were all covered and congealed, and that it 
extended several thousand feet below the limit of perpetual snows. 
They had no use for the neglected barometer, and had some satisfac- 
tion in feeling they had not been troubled with it. About a league 
from San Felipe they passed a large porphyritic mass, some spe- 
cimens broken from which contained grains of quartz. They then 
passed up a singular gully, about twenty feet deep and as many wide, 
for about a league. On leaving the gully, they gradually ascended 
until they reached the ranchos at Jaquel, at the foot of the mountain 
Avhere the mines were situated. It being too late to make the ascent 
to the mines that night, the running streams in the neighbourhood 
were visited, but nothing was found. They were entirely destitute 
of fhiviatile shells and mollusca. Other objects of interest were 
however obtained, in the classes of insects and reptilia, which will 
be described in the reports of these different departments. At sunset 
