54 



CHILI. 



day I happened to fall in with some friends bent 

 on such an expedition, all crowded into a careta 

 or covered waggon, on its way to the hills. They 

 wanted one more cavallero, they said, and I was 

 well pleased to be permitted to join them. We 

 reached the destined spot in safety, though suffi- 

 ciently jolted, and well nigh deafened by the creak- 

 ing sound of the wheels, which, like those in Spain, 

 are kept purposely without grease, in order, it is 

 asserted, by this clumsy device, to prevent smug- 

 gling — since no cart nor waggon can pass within 

 half a league of a custom-house officer without 

 calling his attention to the spot. Here we found 

 ourselves seated in the cool verandah of a neatly 

 built cottage ; and the sea-breeze setting in, prov- 

 ed delightfully refreshing after our dusty drive in 

 the careta. Our situation on the side of the moun- 

 tain commanded a full view of the bay and ship- 

 ping, as well as of the long line of houses skirting 

 the shore ; and the cottage being surrounded by 

 fruit-trees, such as figs, apples, peaches, and 

 oranges, and shaded by lofty tamarinds, the name 

 given to the valley by its discoverers appeared no 

 longer inappropriate ; and was still further justi- 



