36 



CHILI. 



wards of fifty years the pastor of a remote Indian 

 village, where he had acquired, by his talents and 

 virtues, an extensive and important influence over 

 the natives ; whose condition he had greatly im- 

 proved, by converting them to Christianity, and 

 introducing education, together with the arts of 

 civil life. 



In the evening, about sunset, every one flock- 

 ed to the Alameda, or public walk ; called also 

 the Tajamar, from one of its sides forming an 

 embankment to prevent the inundation of the ri- 

 ver Maypocho, a stream, insignificant in winter, 

 but which becomes a violent torrent when the 

 snows of the Andes begin to melt. This pro- 

 menade consists of a wide and finely kept carriage 

 way, with a broad walk on both sides of it, each 

 of which walks is shaded by a double row of lofty 

 poplars. Under these trees there stretches a low 

 wall, on the parapet of which the ladies, who ge- 

 nerally appear in full dress, spread their handker- 

 chiefs with great care, and affected formality, be- 

 fore they venture to sit down. Every part of the 

 walk commands a view of the magnificent Andes, 



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