336 



CHILI. 



paid to his good lady, who was neither young nor 

 handsome, said he would lend us his own horses, 

 whispering mysteriously in our ears at the same 

 time^ that the governor's offer was merely un chas- 

 co — a humbug ! ' 



Talcuhuana is described in books as being 

 strongly fortified ; and it certainly is capable of 

 being rendered very formidable ; but the works 

 have been allowed to go to decay, and all that 

 now remains is a ditch of no great width or depth. 

 Over this is thrown a drawbridge, which we cross- 

 ed on horseback in fear and trembling, lest it 

 should break down. The sentinel who guarded it 

 was a rough, half-dressed, donkey boy, who stag- 

 gered under the weight of a miisket, on the lock 

 of which we read the word tower. 



After passing the barrier, we rode over a swamp 

 of some length, along a hard, well-made road, 

 which brought us to some low grassy hills, from 

 which we had a fine view of the country. In the 

 interior, the mountains were clad in the richest 

 verdure ; with many extensive and beautiful open- 

 ings, exposing to view banks of rich grass and long 

 vistas in the forests, varied by masses of light and 



