MINE OF SAN PEDRO NOLASCO. 213 



mountains which were above us, and that instant 

 commenced the fatigue of the day. 



The valley of Maypo, down which the stream 

 descended, is one celebrated in Chili for its beauty. 

 Bounded on both sides by the barren mountains of 

 the Cordillera, this delightful vale winds its course 

 on both sides of the river or torrent of Maypo ; 

 and although it is uncultivated, yet it is orna- 

 mented with a great variety of shrubs and fruit- 

 trees. 



For several leagues we passed trees loaded with 

 ripe cherries, and peach trees which were bending 

 towards the ground with the weight of their crop. 

 The ground underneath was covered with the 

 peach-stones of the last year's produce, and there 

 must be thousands of these trees whose fruit has 

 never once been tasted by man. The ground, al- 

 though it produced shrubs and trees, had no ap- 

 pearance of pasture, which cannot in a hot climate 

 exist without irrigation. 



After travelling about thirty miles, we crossed 

 the torrent of Maypo, on a suspension-bridge of 

 hide ropes, the construction of which I examined 

 with great attention, as I was surprised to find it 



