114 



THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC. 



attached, by a hide rope, to the tail of each cart. The animals 

 understood their duties well ; for they placed their feet in ad- 

 vance, and unwillingly yielded the ground, as they were drag- 

 ged forward by the horns, thus answering all the purposes to 

 the carreta, which a kedge anchor does to a ship moving in a 

 tideway — that is, retard the progress. 



While we were looking at the carretas, Domingo and Manuel 

 came up with the mules and horses. Manuel passed his laze" 

 round the centre of the axle of the gig, and fastening it to his 

 saddle girth, reined in his horse behind us, and we followed 

 down the hill, kedging in the same style as the carretas. When 

 near the <^ ranchos," or huts, which form the "pueblo," or 

 town, two or three bare headed, half naked children, ran along 

 beside us, holding out flowers, and crying, "toma, Senores; 

 un real" — " take (them), gentlemen ; a real." Though it was 

 rather cool, the present of flowers was romantic enough ; but 

 the call for the real, reminded me of one of the letters of Miss 

 Biddy Fudge : 



** This is all that's occurr'd sentimental as yet ; 

 Except, indeed, some little flower nymphs we've met, 

 Who disturb one's romance with pecuniary views, 

 Flinging flowers in your path, and then bawling for sous /" 



The post of Penuelas is three leagues from Valparaiso, and 

 nine hundred and forty-one feet above the level of the sea. 

 Here there is an inn, at which many, who ride thus far for 

 pleasure, stop. Here we found a table spread with cold corned 

 beef, ham, tongue, &c., and a half dozen English midshipmen, 

 from one of the men-of-war in the harbor, amusing themselves 

 by endeavoring to throw the "lazo." Their frequent failures 

 served to set ofi'the dexterity with which our " peones" caught 

 the horses, which were to relieve those ridden thus far. The 

 " lazo" is a hide rope, ten or twelve yards long, with a running 

 noose at one end, which is opened, when used, for about a yard ; 

 the coil is held in the left hand, while the right keeps the 

 noose in a circular motion over the head ; when fairly spread, 

 it is thrown with unerring aim, and lodges over the neck of the 

 animal to be taken. The moment the ^Uazo" encircles his 



