Excursion mtu the bittsfcC 

 ili.»cli«. 



CHILI. 



Excursion into lite iuieiior. 



broidered coat, gold epaulette*, and field-marshal's 

 sash, lie danced a minuet with a lady of Val- 

 paraiso, whom he had especially selected, nfter 

 which the dniiciiig became general, consisting of 

 quadrilles, country -dance*, and waltzes, bwcUl 

 which they had the lascivious dunces of sama- 

 cuoca, cachuca, and h>rdean. These partake soine- 

 wliat of the boletu and fanJaugo, ur Spanish and 

 African dance. 



Dy way of interlude, marches and national airs 

 were played and sung. The ball did not break up 

 until eight o'clock next illuming, al which hour the 

 president and his daughter were escorted Imnic by 

 a procession of the dancers, with the music playing 



mitiniial nil's, finniing rather .-1 grntrsque show to 

 the by-standers, frum tho intcrchnnge of hat* and 

 outer gariin'Uls that had taken plare. 



On reaching O w W t J Prioto's quarters, they sang 

 a IMtiaMd iiymn, after which many were invited in, 

 where they apim continued dancing until noon. 



I should nut omit to mention thai after midnight 

 the ladies underwent a second operation of the 

 toilet. 



The whole equalled, if it did not surpass, any of 

 our own fetes in thu United States ; indeed nil 

 who attended mm much surprised, having little 

 idea that Valparaiso could have made so brilliant 

 and tasteful a display uf beauty and magnifieone. 



CHAPTER VII. 

 CHILI. 



C1III.1 (COKTtXtJSD)— JOUANKT INTO THE 1 NTERIOR— SI LOC KKi — CAM SLAXCA — & BO LOO ITAE. PoRM »TIOX— Ctt*ACOVt 



. ri.'Di* dk iapata— i ei:sT\ del prado— km mis— transportation or oooa*— pkvqa *»— i-lais of vatpo 

 — coam llzra »— *t. i ago— m i st— l i n h mi v— a it csem ekts— t asiuoxs— m a * kkt— cum at*— txcva«iox to rwt 



COIIDILLKRA* — MDt'STAIS tCEJfERT — »XOW"— ODiK ACOES— HKAT— * ETC US TO «T, JAUO— M AYPOCKO— JDVHSEY TO 

 HAS PELU'R— OP1LLOTA — TlTONQATt PEAK— CATCH I NO Wl U» HOUSES— ARRIVAL AT * A K TULIP* HE ACONCAGUA 

 —TOWS OP IAS FKL1PK— CH1H II A AVD A«JH AaOl KNTE— Til ElR Jl A*ePACTURK— AOairT J.TCRAL 1 V I'LEMLXTl— 

 (OFPER KtSSS-LAKK OJ# TUG 1H..H tURtULLXRA*— K1JS3*EI» OP MH. XBWUAK, AS K.NGLUH OES'TLKH AS, AMI 

 DK LAOT— POPULATION OP CHILI. 



1'itEviors to my arrival at Valparaiso, the natural- 

 ists and Huiue officers on board the Peacock and 

 Relief had made excursions into the interior. On 

 my arrival, 1 allowed all those who could be spared, 

 and were desirous of visiting Santiago, sufficient 

 leave to make the trip. Several set out for that 

 city, and some with a view of exteuding their 

 journey to the Cordilleras beyond. 



The bihwhorus were eager fur opportunities to 

 hire their biloehes, a vehicle somewhat resembling 

 a double gig, which is generally used for travelling 

 in Chili. They have a most rickety and worn-out 

 appearance ; almost every part appears mended 

 with cords made of hide. They accommodate two 

 passengers; and tho time required between Valpa- 

 raiso and the city (Santiago), is about eighteen or 

 twenty hours. In the shafts a horso is put ; a 

 postilion rides oue on the left, and sometimes 

 another is placed on the right, both being fastened 

 to tho vehicle by lassos of raw-hide proceeding 

 from the saddle. Each vehicle is attended by three 

 biloehc-ros or drivers, with a drove of twelve or 

 fifteen horses, forming quite a cavalcade. 



The biloeheros are very expert at their business. 

 They are excellent rulers, having been brought up 

 to this exercise from their infancy, and understand 

 managing their horses, though in a rude way. 

 Their borees are small, but spirited, and bear 

 fatigue well. Their usual speed is about nine or 

 ten miles an hour. Few equipages can compare 

 with these crazy machines, driven, as they some- 

 times are, pell-mell up hill and down dale, with all 

 their accompaniments of horses, gtiachcw, &c. ; and 

 it affords no small amusement to those un foot, to 

 witness tho consternation of the affrighted passen- 

 gers, in momentary expectation of a break-down. 

 It is a difficult matter to acquire conqRisure, on 



Keciug the numerous temporary lashings, giving 

 ocular proof that accidents have been frequent, 

 however well satisfied one may be with the skill 

 of the couductor. Fortunately tho road is excel- 

 lent, though at this season (May) it is di- 

 vested of much of its beauty from the want uf 

 vegetation. The interest is, however, carried for- 

 ward to the lofty peaks of the Andes, of whose 

 summits occasional glimpses are had ; and the eye 

 glances over the surrounding scenery in the imme- 

 diate neighbourhood, that wuuld elsewhere be 

 deemed grand, to rest on some high and towering 

 peak. Among these the peak of Tupongati is 

 the most tinted, ranking, since the measurement 

 of King, as next in height to the llimmaleh 

 mountains. 



Tho first stopping-place is at Casa Dlanca, a 

 small pueblo of some five hundred inhabitants, 

 where travellers usually sleep. The accommoda- 

 tions were good, having been recently much im- 

 proved. In the neighbourhood is the only tract of 

 woodland to be found in this part of the country. 

 The elevation of Casa Dlanca is five hundred and 

 ninety-eight feet above the level of the sea. 



Tho road from Casa Dlanca next passes through 

 Curaeovi, a small pueblo, where the trap rock first 

 makes its appearance, and then over a high ridge, 

 called the Cuesta des Zapata. This terminates the 

 first plain, and divides it from the second, of simi- 

 lar character, which extends to the Cuesta del 

 Frado, It is passed over by a zigzag road, and 

 was found to bo two thousand three hundred and 

 ninety-four feet high. On reaching the top, tho view 

 that presents itself is extensive and magnificent. 



In front is the extensive plain of Maypo, with 

 here and there a conical mountain staudiug ulone 

 on it. At the extremity of the plain rise the lofty 



