162 CHILIAN LADIES. 



good it was still in that same comfortless style 

 as at Mendoza ; only here the party not being so 

 large^ the dishes came on separately^ and each 

 person helped himself. On leaving this town, 

 we passed many Chilian ladies on horseback, 

 dressed in all the colours of the rainbow. They 

 wore round hats of silk, with gay feathers ; 

 their pillions were adorned with red, yellow, and 

 blue pieces of cloth cut out in the shape of 

 diamonds; the horse's head -piece and reins 

 were covered all over with small square pieces 

 of silver. Besides these ornaments, the blue 

 saddle-cloth had a red border, with large red 

 tassels attached to it. We now crossed the rapid 

 river and entered the delightful plain of Santa 

 Rosa,* where much fine hemp is grown. The 

 industrious inhabitants were employed threshing 

 it, and in some places spinning it into yarn, and 

 making rope. We continued travelling very 

 late this night. After passing over several 

 steep cuestas, and crossing many rapid torrents 



* The river Aconcagua separates the plain of Santa Rosa 

 from the valley of Aconcagua. 



