NOTICES OP CHILE. 



113 



When descending the hill to Pefiuelas, we overtook three 

 large "carretas," on their way to the capital. The carr6ta or cart 

 is a most clumsy, unwieldy kind of vehicle. The wheels are 

 about ten feet high, bound with a huge wooden tire, the fellies 

 of which are applied in such a way that the joints fall between 

 those of the wheel-fellies ; the whole being secured with 

 wooden pins, gives strength to the structure. The hubs are 

 simply blocks, or rather sections of the trunk of a tree, with a 

 hole burnt through the centre for the axle, which is never 

 greased, because, it is said, the squeaking noise caused by the 

 friction of the dry wood, served to waken the drowsy custom 

 house officers, stationed on the road during the Spanish re- 

 gime; and now the oxen have become so accustomed to the 

 sound, that they are unwilling to move without it. The body 

 of the cart is fourteen or fifteen feet long, by six or seven 

 broad, covered over with an arching canopy, made of canes or 

 wattled straw, having small square holes cut in the sides as 

 look-out places, while the front and rear are left open. It is 

 drawn by from four to six oxen, yoked by the horns, the first 

 pair of which support the tongue of the carreta. The driver, 

 or capat^z, wears a cone shaped hat, poncho, and a pair of 

 bragas, sustained above the loins by a sash ; they fall a little 

 below the knee, and, being cut straight, the inner seam ap- 

 plies itself close to the leg, while the outer one stands afar off. 

 The legs are bare ; the feet are protected by sandals of untanned 

 leather, or shoes made somewhat after the fashion of the moc- 

 casin of the North American Indian. He is armed with a pole, 

 ten or twelve feet long, pointed with a nail or piece of sharp 

 iron, with which he guides his cattle ; each one of the team 

 has a name, and if not obedient, when called, is made to feel 

 the point of the goad. 



The carretas we came up with, were laden with bales and 

 packages ; carrying also on top, bales of straw, (not chopped, 

 but broken by the fashion of treading out the grain by mares, 

 instead of thrashing it), for the provender of the journey, which 

 extends from six to ten days, according to the state of the roads. 

 The teamsters were walking near the carretas, guiding them 

 down hill j to prevent a too rapid descent, a yoke of oxen was 

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