THE ANDES* 



37 



arrived at a place where the rocks were 

 tumbled about in great confusion^ evidently 

 the effect of some violent convulsion^ like the 

 fall of the Rossberg in Switzerland^ though not 

 on so grand a scale. We afterwards rode down 

 a valley by the side of the river Maypo. This 

 river is memorable for a battle^ fought by San 

 Martin in the plains through which it passes 

 near Santiago, which terminated the Spanish 

 authority in Chile, and gave freedom, such as 

 they have it, to this state. 



Here are all kinds of evergreen shrubs, and 

 trees from fifteen to twenty feet high. We 

 followed the course of the river for the rest of 

 the day, sometimes so near to its rocky channel 

 as to bruise our horses^ hoofs, and sometimes 

 by a narrow woodland path on its bank. 

 Before dark we were passing some rocks 

 which projected a little into the water, and 



