NOTICES OF CHILE. 



87 



vegetables, owing to some peculiarity of soil, possess the same 

 excellence of flavor as those of Europe and the United States. 

 The best are the grapes and figs. The fruit trees are never 

 grafted. It is but reasonable to suppose that greater care in 

 their cultivation would very much improve the taste and size 

 of the fruits. 



Besides all the good things of the land mentioned, the bay 

 and its neighboring coasts furnish the market with a variety of 

 fine fish. Many of the molluscous animals, taken on the rocks, 

 are sold in the plaza, and are eaten by the lower classes. 

 Amongst them are several species of Chiton, called "prende- 

 d6res," or squeezers, from their habit of rolling themselves up 

 very strongly, when taken from the rocks ; one or two of Ba- 

 lanus, or barnacle ; a large species of Donax; several of the 

 Fissurella and Patella; and one which is styled by Blainville, 

 Choncholepas Peruvianus. 



From the greater part of the business being transacted within 

 a small space, the street, in the morning, presents a very lively 

 scene. It was formerly almost impassable, from the collecting 

 together of a great number of ox-carts, used for bringing to 

 market the produce of Santiago and the surrounding country. 

 A decree, not long since issued, ordered that light carts should 

 be substituted for the heavy ones j but the evil is not removed, 

 for those now in use are nearly as large as the old " carretas.'^ 

 Besides, troops of laden mules and jackasses are constantly 

 passing and repassing ; and half of the busy world of Valpa- 

 raiso being constantly on horseback, renders it necessary to be 

 always on the qui viva while walking the street. 



In front of the landing and jetty is the custom house, lately 

 erected, and well adapted to the purposes for which it was in- 

 tended; and to the left are the capitania," or captain of the 

 port's office, and the ^^resguardo," a department of the cus- 

 tom house. There is always a crowd of boatmen sauntering 

 about this spot, ready to make themselves useful when there is 

 any prospect of remuneration. They are stout, brawny, ath- 

 letic men, with good hufhored faces of a light olive complexion ; 

 from foreign sailors they have acquired English enough to 

 make themselves understood, and to annoy every stranger who 



