LEAVE SANTA ROSA. 



might probably lead to the loss of his situation 

 as a government courier^ which he was: on 

 this he brushed up, and started with me. His 

 house being at the extreme end of the village, 

 we soon commenced our ascent by the side of the 

 river Aconcagua, which was tearing down the 

 mountains with amazing velocity, sweeping rocks, 

 stones, and every thing before it. On coming 

 to the first bridge, we found it washed away ; 

 proceeding on about a league further, cross- 

 ed over the second bridge, where I should 

 say, the river was running through, at the rate of 

 ten knots per hour, a great difference from the last 

 time I crossed it, when I passed through the river 

 itself; but, at that time the snow (being in the 

 depth of winter) had not began to melt. 



We continued our course by the side of it, until 

 dark came on, and then put up at a miserable ran- 

 cho on its banks ; here I missed the courier, and 

 found that an old man was going instead of the 

 one I had engaged ; and that I was put under the 

 charge of a boy. This proceeded from the evil 



