CHILIAN COUNTRY GENTLEMAN. 179 



we stood upon to the plain we had left. Indeed, 

 the enormous scale of every thing around us, with 

 the dimensions of which we were yet far from suf- 

 ficiently familiar, made it impossible to appreciate 

 correctly either heights, distances, or levels. 



One of the party happening to descry at a dis- 

 tance the country-house of a friend, we agreed to 

 try our fortune there, as we had been disappoint- 

 ed with the waterfall, which proved quite con^- 

 temptible. The master of the house, an old Span., 

 iard, was delighted to see us, and very kindly 

 took us over his vineyards, and his olive groves. 

 His vines, which were loaded with fruit, were 

 planted in the manner of those at the Cape of 

 Good Hope, forming rows like gooseberry-bush- 

 es, and supported only here and there as occasion 

 i^equired. He showed us also his wine-presses, 

 and his immense cellars, along which were ranged 

 many hundreds of Botijas, or gigantic jars, capa- 

 ble of holding, at least, a tun each. He had 

 been a naval captain in his day, but having be- 

 come disgusted with the service, and being of a 

 quiet disposition, he had bought this place, mar- 

 ried, and given up all thoughts of honour and 



