THE GREAT CORDILLERA. 



183 



him for some time, uncertain which of the two he 

 was to receive. 



We all slept in the yard of the pulperia, on the 

 ground, and long before day -break we started. 

 I galloped on by myself, and at first took the 

 wrong path; but as soon as I found by my compass 

 that it was leading me away from Santiago, I 

 changed my course, and at last came to a fire, 

 round which a family were sleeping. After the 

 usual barking of the dogs was silenced, I was 

 directed where to go, and I crossed a number 

 of small hills, until I came to the large uncul- 

 tivated plain of Santiago. I was more than two 

 hours galloping across this plain, which, from 

 want of irrigation, produces no sort of herbage, 

 but only scattered shrubs. 



When I got within two leagues of the city, I 

 came to water, and then the road was occasionally 

 a pontana (swamp), through which, not knowing 

 the passes, I had great difficulty to wade. An 

 English horse would certainly have stuck in it, 

 but those of the country, being accustomed to it, 

 walk through very slowly, extricating their legs 

 with the greatest caution. 



