110 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIPI€. 



and resting a hand on each thigh, allowed his person to move 

 from side to side, with the alternate steps of the animal, as he 

 preceded us up the alto. As the ascent grew more steep, our 

 speed slackened, and the ^^peon,^' named Pepe, drew forth an 

 <*hojita," and having properly adjusted it, held it crosswise 

 betwixt his lips, while he struck fire by the aid of a small horn 

 of tinder, and in a little while, both Pepe, and Manuel the 

 second peon, were quietly smoking. 



Pepe was a stout, well formed youth, about five feet six 

 inches high, and perhaps twenty years old. He possessed an 

 amiable though somewhat serious face, with good teeth, and a 

 cheek like a dirty peach. He had a new gingham jacket, which 

 he was desirous of protecting from the dust, and therefore tied 

 two corners of a handkerchief under his chin, allowing it to 

 hang down behind like a cloak. Manuel was perhaps younger, 

 equally vigorous, but possessed of a most roguish countenance, 

 though not less healthful than that of his companion ; in fact, 

 he w^as a frolicksome looking youth, with well turned limbs. 

 These two peones" seemed to be the best friends in the 

 world, and had I not inquired as to the fact, I should have 

 thought they were brothers ; for during the whole journey, 

 they were always ready to strike fire for each other, and per- 

 form a thousand other little friendly offices. The ^^capatdz" 

 was a man of about thirty, stout, well made, and six feet high. 

 The *«peones" obeyed his orders cheerfully, but never treated 

 him with the deference that I have seen elsewhere observed 

 by persons similarly related. These men were a fair specimen 

 of what is termed the ^^peondda," or laboring population of 

 Chile. They were active, cheerful, and respectful, without 

 being servile, and well calculated to be members of a free and 

 independent republic. Those men who live as they do, are re- 

 markable for the development of their lower limbs ; it is not 



unusual, in some parts of the country, to say, ^'Don • 



tiene buena pierna" — such an one has a good leg ; meaning he 

 is a good horseman. 



The summit of the Altos de Valparaiso is 1260 feet above 

 the level of the sea.* Like all the high land round Valparaiso, 



* Miers. Travels in Chile. 



