^14 



JOURNEY TO THE SILVER MINE OF 

 SAN PEDRO NOLASCO. 



As soon as we returned to Santiago from the 

 gold mine of Caren, we ordered fresh mules ; and 

 the next morning, before day-break, we set off to 

 inspect the silver mine of San Pedro Nolasco, 

 which is in the Andes, about seventy-five miles 

 south-west from Santiago. For a few miles we tra- 

 versed the plain of Santiago, which was cool and 

 refreshed by the night air: just as the day was 

 dawning we reached the foot of the mountains, and 

 then following the course of a large rapid torrent, 

 we continued for several hours on the east side of 

 it, climbing along a path which appeared to over- 

 hang the water. 



As the sun gradually rose, the mountains on the 

 opposite side were scorched by the heat, while we 

 for several hours were in the shade and cool ; but the 

 line of shadow, after crossing the torrent, gradually 

 approached us, the sun at last looked over the high 



