CHILI. 199 
the snowy mountains exhibited a magnificent sight ; lighted up and 
glistening in the sunshine, it appeared as though some tremendous 
conflagration had broken out. After this the progress of night pro- 
duces a peculiar effect. It was quite dark in the valley, while the 
lofty summits were yet tinged by the setting sun. The limit of 
darkness was distinctly seen advancing upwards like a dark Avail, and 
as it ascended, peak after peak became lost to view, until the whole 
was enshrouded in obscurity. 
The part of this valley where the ranchos are situated is called La 
Vega of Jaquel. This is the principal smelting-place, the ore being 
brought here by mules from the foot of the mountain, down whose 
sides it is thrown from the mines. The descent is about two 
thousand feet, and very steep. Mr. Alderson stated that it took 
thirty seconds for the ore to descend. The face of the mountain, 
from long usage, is worn quite smooth. The ranchos at the mine, 
about six hundred feet below the summit, on the steep mountain side, 
are visible from here. The Jaquel valley is said to contain a few 
sulphur springs, which are reported as poisonous. Our gentlemen 
had not time to visit them. The temperature, before leaving 
San Felipe, at 6 o'clock, a. m., was 45°, at 10 a. m., 54° ; at 
Jaquel, three hundred feet above the sea, at 5" 30 m , it was 55°, at 11 
p. m. 51°. 
Mr. Newman had previously lost much property here by the 
burning of his whole establishment, excepting two buildings, fire 
having been communicated to the thatched roof by the sparks from 
the furnace, during a tornado that passed over. So rapidly had the 
flames spread, that it was with difficulty that Mr. Newman and his 
agent saved their lives. Besides the loss of buildings, a large quantity 
of machinery, lately imported from England, was destroyed. 
On the 21st May, they set out on mules for the mines, accompanied 
by Mr. Alderson, and reached them about ten o'clock. Their first 
act was to change their boots for a pair of raw-hide shoes, such as 
are used by the miners, in order to ensure a safer footing. They 
now entered the principal gallery, which was about seven feet high 
and five broad, excavated for about twenty yards horizontally ; it then 
divides into several branches, and these again into others, from fifteen 
to twenty yards in length. 
The greatest extent of any one gallery is over thirty feet. The 
mountain has been penetrated horizontally to about four hundred feet, 
in the direction of northeast to east-northeast, as the veins run, and 
