229 



DEPARTURE FROM SANTIAGO. 

 * ^ * * * 



December Slst, Santiago, midnight. — Mules ar- 

 rived for us to recross the Cordillera to return to 

 Buenos Aires — a large drove — two mules for each 

 person — spare ones for the baggage. At one 

 o'clock in the morning the mules were laden and 

 ready — went across the street to the fonda, to get 

 some breakfast, which was laid for us at one end of 

 a Ions: table — at the other end were two Scotchmen 

 sitting without their coats, waistcoats, or neck- 

 cloths — (midsummer.) 



They had been drinking-in the new year — in 

 their heads there was " mair brandy than brains," 

 yet their hearts were still true to their " auld re- 

 spected mither." The room was evidently moving 

 round them — they were singing (with action) 



Auld lang syne," and the one that was pitted 

 with the small-pox seemed to feel it as much as the 

 other they held out glasses to us, and begged us 



