8S 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



passes. The moment an Englishman or an American comes 

 in sight, a half dozen of these men run forward, calling, " you 

 want hoty — me hoty very fine," at the same time rolling up 

 the legs of their trowsers to be in readiness to launch one of 

 the whale boats from the row constantly drawn up on the 

 beach to the right of the jetty. If the stranger maintain silence, 

 the boatmen dance down before him, looking inquisitively in 

 his face, and if they discover he really wishes to embark, they 

 rush, each to his respective boat, and holding up one hand, to 

 attract attention, vociferate or cry in an animated tone, " aqui, 

 mi patron — aqui, me boty.^^ If the ^^patr6n" now declare 

 that he does not intend to go afloat, the whole crowd set up a 

 good natured shout at the expense of their disappointed bro- 

 thers. When strangers land, the boatmen are the first to wel- 

 come them with smiling faces, and to extend an arm to assist 

 them on shore, without afterwards expecting a reward for this 

 natural sort of politeness. 



Next to the busy appearance of the street and the landing, 

 the individuals of the picture attract attention. The " agua- 

 d6res" and their donkeys, that supply every family with water 

 from springs in the difierent quebrddas, stand forth conspicuous 

 in the eyes of the newly arrived North American. The don- 

 key carries two small barrels or kegs, suspended one on either 

 side, in a wooden frame adapted to the purpose; and the 



aguador" sits en croupe, swinging his bare legs, first one and 

 then the other, as if spurring. He wears a coarse cone shaped 

 hat drawn well over his face, a shirt with sleeves rolled up 

 above the elbow, a leather apron, something like that of a black- 

 smith, and loose trowsers reaching just below the knee. He 

 carries a pole about six feet long, armed with an iron curve or 

 hook before him, lying crosswise. A small tinkling bell, at- 

 tached to the saddle, gives notice of his approach. These men, 

 apparently the happiest and steadiest fellows in the w^orld, 

 manifest a sort of indifference or nonchalance for every thing 

 around them ; having learned a lesson of patience from the ani- 

 mal they drive, they are never in haste, nor can they be in- 

 duced to move out of their accustomed pace. When the wa- 

 ter-carrier stops, and removes one of the barrels, to prevent 



