NOTICES OP CHILE. 121 



On one side, this road, which has been termed the Simplon of 

 America, has twenty-eight turns. It winds, zigzag, over a 

 kind of round mountain spur, far into the deep and almost per- 

 pendicular quebradas, which are on either side. In these, 

 though the sun had passed the meridian, white frost still hung 

 on the leafless shrubbery, and the little puddles on the road 

 were still covered with ice. This road, though good as it can 

 well be make, is dangerous ; carriages have been hurled from 

 the top into the quebrada below, and it is needless to say what 

 was their fate ! The passage of the Cuesta de Zapata is equally 

 dangerous, similar accidents having occurred upon it. 



When at the top, the most splendid scene imaginable broke 

 upon the view. The sky was cloudless, the atmosphere was 

 clear, and the azure heavens seemed transparent. The Cordil- 

 leras of the Sierra Nevada stood, in a mighty chain, before us, 

 rearing their summits 1S,000 feet towards the blue vault. The 

 fleecy snows — the accumulation of ages — hung like a bright 

 mantle over its rocks and cliffs, falling gracefully into the pro- 

 found gorges and deep glens, like the folds of a rich drapery. 

 At the base, the capital was perceived, but its towers and fanes 

 sank into insignificance in presence of the stupendous moun- 

 tain ! To the right, the stream of Mapocho stole glittering 

 over the vega ; the Maypo called up the glorious struggle which 

 decided the fate of Chile to be onward in the march of inde- 

 pendence ; and imagination arrayed the field with charging 

 cavalry and flying squadrons, and the ears rang with the ex- 

 ulting shouts of victory ! To the left, Colina appeared like a 

 bright speck upon the plain, and in every direction were 

 sprinkled ^^chacras" and ^^haciendas," teeming with the labors 

 of peace ! Conforming with the magnificence of the scene, 

 mammoth-like condors proudly sailed, between us and the 

 sky, towards their eyries in the cold bosom of the Andes I 



Admiration was spell bound ! We were awe-struck by the 

 grandeur of the mighty works of nature before us, and exclaim- 

 ing, "How wonderfully sublime !" gazed on in silence. 



'* Ah me ! what hand can pencil guide, or pen, 

 To follow half on which the eye dilates, 

 Through views more dazzling unto mortal ken, 

 16 



