16 



CHILT. 



Chili, and it may be here remarked, that we did 

 not find the depth of colour in the skin so much 

 dependent upon latitude and temperature as it is 

 usually supposed to be. The men at Guasco are 

 a fine race, well made, and generally handsome ; 

 with graceful, and rather gentle manners. Most 

 of the women, both in figure and countenance, 

 are very handsome ; indeed, we scarcely saw one, 

 out of many hundreds, who had not something 

 pleasing in her look, or in her person ; and what 

 is more rare in hot countries, this remark extends 

 to elderly women. Although considerably fairer 

 than any South Americans we had yet seen, they 

 were all characterized by the dark eye and long 

 black hair of their ancestors. 



21st of Nov, — Immediately after breakfast, a 

 party was formed to explore a copper mine in the 

 neighbourhood. We had to wind by tiresome 

 sandy paths up a steep hill, at the top of which 

 we were met by one of the workmen, who led us 

 to the mouth of a mine called La Gloria. The 

 opening was not more than six feet across, and, as 

 the descent was very crooked, we were soon ob- 

 liged to light candles, one of which each person 



