180 



CHILI. 



glory ; so that we found him most amiably igno- 

 rant of all that was passing beyond the bounda- 

 ries of his estate : but with respect to machinery, 

 the manufacture of wine, or the culture of olive- 

 trees and vines, he was full of information, and 

 caught eagerly at any hints for their improve- 

 ment. 



In the evening we called on several families to 

 take leave, it being our intention to return imme- 

 diately to Valparaiso. At one house we were the 

 only visitors ; at another we could scarcely get in, 

 owing to the crowd of company, and when at 

 length we gained a seat near the ladies, we found 

 it not easy nor agreeable to converse in our lame 

 Spanish before so great an audience of natives. 

 Our reception at the first house was much warm- 

 er, and proved more satisfactory, and more useful 

 to those who were anxious to improve themselves 

 in the language. At the other we saw a larger 

 company, but made fewer and less valuable ac- 

 quaintances. In both, and, indeed, I may say in 

 every house, there seemed to prevail but one kind- 

 ly disposition to treat us with attention and hos- 

 pitality ; and to assist us, with the most polite, 



