1835. CHICHA — APPLE-TREES — VILLAGIIAN. 4()7 



and other favourite libations, to carry so large a number across 

 upon a small raft, was a difficult undertaking. Talking at the 

 pitch of their voices, laughing and tumbling about, their 

 reaching the opposite shore without a cold-bath, was attributed 

 by Vogelborg to the protection of the saint whose anniversary 

 they had so dutifully celebrated. The ' chicha,*"^' is sometimes 

 fermented, and then soon affects a person's head, if drank 

 to excess: but these votaries of St. John had doubtless im- 

 proved its insipid taste by aguardiente. During the chicha 

 season, or autumn, the Indians are said to be more dangerous 

 than at other times, as they indulge in this, their favourite 

 beverage, to excess. 



Apple trees are now abundant in southern Chile, throughout 

 the Indian as well as Spanish territories. They were also plentiful 

 on the eastern side of the Andes, particularly about the river 

 Negro and the great lake ' Nahuelhuapi,' in the middle of the 

 last century. Whether they are indigenous, or were planted by 

 the early missionaries, has been much disputed in that country; 

 but as the Indian name for them is ' manchana,^"|* I should 

 incline to think they were introduced by the first missionaries. 



Our road over the heights of Villagran was much worse than 

 at our former passage. Heavy rain and Constant traffic, in con- 

 sequence of the wreck, had worn it into a curious succession 

 of steps : and each animal endeavouring to place his feet in 

 the holes made by those which had previously passed — the 

 rain having filled up the hollows with mud and water — had 

 worked the clayey track into a continuation of transverse ridges 

 and trenches. A man might step from ridge to ridge with- 

 out wetting his feet ; but the horses always planted their 

 legs, up to the knees and hocks, in the mud and water of the 

 trenches. Their motion was just as if they were stepping 

 over logs of timber : unpleasant enough for the rider, and ex- 

 tremely tiring to themselves. We helped them however as much 

 as possible, to the surprise of our lazy guide, by dismounting 

 and leading them up the hills as well as down. 



* ' Chicha' is made with maize, apples, or other things, 

 t Manzana is Spanish for apple. 



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