68 



VALPARAISO. 



ment to me, I could not help imagining what 

 an extraordinary sensation it must have pro- 

 duced on the minds of those Spaniards who 

 had no previous knowledge of the existence of 

 any water on the eastern side of the Andes. 

 Having meditated for some time on tJriis idea, 

 I returned hungry to breakfast. 



Called at the consuFs house. Its situation 

 on the top of the cliff is very commanding, 

 but the earthquakes I should think must ren- 

 der the position of it at the edge of a pre- 

 cipice rather precarious. The consul was out, 

 but I was received by his lady. At a mer- 

 chant's house in the town, I afterwards re- 

 ceived the confirmation of the political news 

 and changes in England, of which I had before 

 only heard a rumour at Santiago. 



March 5. — After dinner yesterday we mounted 

 the cliff, and got among the hills immediately 



