WRECK OF THE CHALLENGER. 



81 



We stopped at the house of a gentleman well 

 known to the Consul, but who at this time was 

 at Santiago. His major-domo, however, offered 

 the use of the house to the Consul, which he 

 declined accepting, or putting him to any trou- 

 ble more than to prepare a supper, and allow us 

 to arrange our beds inside the corridor. We 

 made a hearty supper ; Camilo messing with us, 

 and treated as a valuable friend by the Consul, 

 who placed every confidence in his honesty, and, 

 from his better knowledge of the country people 

 and Indians, intrusted to him the entire arrange- 

 ment of the journey. After supper, in the course 

 of conversation, it was agreed that Mr. Lane and 

 Camilo should precede us with letters to Captain 

 Seymour and the commandant of Arauco, ac- 

 quainting them with our proceedings. The 

 letters were written, and we retired to rest. 



At daylight, on the 28th, Mr. Lane and Ca- 

 milo set out, the former to be guided by Camilo's 

 son, Antonio. The Consul and myself proceeded 

 at 9 on our journey, but found some diffi- 

 culty in getting the mules on, the rains having 

 rendered the roads almost impassable, the mules 

 constantly falling, and requiring to be relieved 

 of their burdens. Came to Colcura; and, in 



G 



