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CHILI. 



the country. We sat in the cross draught of two 

 open doors and numerous unsashed wmdows, en- 

 joying the balmy air as it passed through the 

 house, whisking in its course the dried fig and 

 vine leaves along the floor. On one side, we could 

 see the gravel walks of the garden, stretching far 

 under trellised vines, and shaded by a broad belt 

 of lofty walnut trees, which formed - a grateful 

 skreen between us and the fiery glare of the west- 

 ern sky. On the other hand, our view extended 

 to the base of the Andes, fifty or sixty miles off, 

 indistinctly seen through the waving haze caused 

 by the fierceness of the sun's rays striking on the 

 arid low grounds : neither bird nor beast was to 

 be seen, nor the least speck of a cloud in the sky. 

 The tyranny of the sun was complete. There 

 was a solemn tranquillity in this which, while it 

 disposed the mind to thought, took nothing from 

 its cheerfulness. But we were soon left to enjoy 

 it alone, as the company dropped off* one by one, 

 to take their siesta, the landlord only remaining ; 

 but as this was evidently out of civility to his 

 guests, we took an early opportunity of slipping 

 off* to our rooms, that he also might retire. 



