OF SAN PEDRO NOLASCO. 



who attempted to support it were altogether un- 

 able, and exclaimed " that it would break their 

 backs." 



The load which we tried was one of specimens 

 which I had paid the apire to bring up for me, 

 and which weighed more than usual, but not much, 

 and he had carried it up with me, and was above 

 me during the whole of the ascent. 



While we were at one end of the hut, drinking 

 brandy-and-water, seated upon our saddles, and 

 lighted by a brown tallow- candle which was stuck 

 into a bottle, and which was not three yards from a 

 hide filled with gunpowder; the few miners we 

 had seen at work had been relieved by others who 

 were to work through the night. They came into 

 the hut, and without taking the least notice of 

 us, prepared their supper, which was a very 

 simple operation. The men took their candles out 

 of the cloven sticks, and in the cleft they put a 

 piece of dried beef ; this they warmed for a few 

 seconds, over the embers which were burning on 

 the ground, and they then eat it, and afterwards 

 drank some melted snow-water out of a cow's-horn. 



Their meal being over, they then enjoyed the 



Q 2 



