4 



CHTLI. 



norance — in the course of time it is derived from 

 our knowledge. 



Just as we were mounting our horses, two Eng- 

 lish gentlemen from Coquimbo came galloping to- 

 wards the landing place. They had mistaken 

 our ship for an American frigate, on board of 

 which a son of one of them was expected to come 

 as passenger. The father bore his disappoint- 

 ment with great good humour; and insisted upon 

 carrying us back to his house. At the door we 

 were met by his wife, a native of the place ; while 

 half-a-dozen children rushed in a body to the pa- 

 tio expecting to meet their brother, and could ill 

 dissemble their mortification at seeing only new 

 faces. But our reception, notwithstanding this 

 disappointment, was hospitality itself; and our 

 new friend insisted on making up beds for the 

 whole party, although it consisted of five per- 

 sons. 



We remained at Coquimbo four days, during 

 which our host entertained us with morning and 

 evening parties at his house, and by carrying us 

 round to visit the best families in the place. 

 Though it would be ridiculous to attempt any ac- 



