20 



CHILI. 



in watching the motions of such of us as had 

 been formerly admitted to their confidence, and 

 who were still chuckling over the success of the 

 first exploit. I attempted, next evening, to pass 

 a similar jest upon them, and disguised myself 

 with great care ; but their practised eyes were not 

 to be deceived, and they saw through it at the 

 first glance. 



The merchants and other principal inhabitants 

 reside in the houses built along the base of the 

 cliffs in Valparaiso, and along the streets of the 

 Almendral. But the poorer people live chiefly 

 in the Quebradas, or ravines. This class of so- 

 ciety has been the least affected by the changes in 

 the political state of the country, and retained, as 

 we were informed, nearly the same manners and 

 habits as before ; a circumstance which gave them 

 a higher interest to us ; and induced us frequent- 

 ly to rove about, in the cool hours of the even- 

 ing, amongst their ranchas, or cottages. We were 

 every where received with the utmost frankness, 

 and, as far as the simple means of the inhabitants 

 went, with hospitality. They were chiefly brick- 

 makers, day-labourers, and washerwomen, who 



