Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-09-01


the mu,eieerS Keep droves OF mules, d1singth the
summer months, and remove them into the low
grounds before the htst tail vi Snow. We
passed several loads OF the herb oil Paraguay
ani Other articles, which had becu aDaE-
dOiec at the COMMENCEMENT, OF the wimter.-
The traffic OF the Coidsieras CONTINUES Is long
rs the passage /, practicable, and druyes of
mules are sometimes ovsrtdheu by tue FIST
storms of winter The mate teers then UnicaI.
leaving the packages IN IA circle. and cnd.asor
To save themselves ai'd mules. Some iuea may
ice formed VI the extent of the traffic Of this
passage ut the Cordiilerds, by the number OF
caravans winch were passing at this time. /
met "a d,oveS OF mules, tue smallest drove con-
SISTED al IL. and the largest OF J5 mules. as
We cOnIinw.d to descend, the face OF nature
became more varieaated and beautiful, and al
tel the iirS, day sdosceni, our pat II wound along
the banks Of rapid torrent, and MAS shaded
BY large tees On the second night We en-
canp.d mean the cii>tOmhOuse a snail stone
building enclosed b, LARGE court ward where
The mules ate "a loaded. aud the goods exa,un-
ed. a wall extends actoss the valley from the
river to the base OF the mountain, 10 prevent
the passage ui snln.siets. During the winter
lbs ca ton-houSe officers and guard retire TO
Santa NeS2, the first town i'll Chill. They had
not Yet teiuTDed, ANA we passed through the
gates into very narrow valley. There the
path became yer, rugged, Frequently ascending
anu descending steep proJcsliurS which tN-
tended from tie mountain to the river. We
passed che al the large torrents which form the
river Aconcaeua, Ou IA bridge, and eucamped a
league hes omd il oA a small level spot, within
lew yards OF the liver, ard surrounded hy tic
most picturesque scenery Imaginable. About
y leaSne before we eucamp.d we PASS, IA small
lake. The road continued 10 what along tile
right bank OF the river, stconcasi.a until we
crossed il on frdii wooden bridge here the
valley OF Aconcaeua opened 20 our view. aud
shortly after we saw the town Of Santa Rosa
capital oithe district ct the same name Ii is
"A small ueat town. r,uC resoried to IN the sum.
mer, Oh account OF The nliidues> aud excellence
at its climate. Little nsyond this. stand, the
town CT san Felipe el real de Aconca.na the
capital of the distract Of Che same name. 1t is
re- u!arly built. aud the streets are planted
with tiess and intei cepted with Canals, which
| distribute the waters ct The Acouclgua To the
gardens aud fields. these two Districts are Sc
parated by The acOncasua, and are bounded
uor,h by PetOrea, south by Mapocho. east by
tie tOidieras, and west by QuiiIoia. / did
not stop ia the tOan, but accompanied my mt
leieer To his fathers house. On passing San
Felipe ct real we passed along one of the finest
Viiiies in the world. The fields were all iIri
gated Indian corn, wheat, barley, and the az
ihciai grapes, were growing inXuriaEtly, and
The road was lined with fruit utes. In pas sing
along tile iaaes formed by enclosures Of mud
and hedges Of thOrns, We had frequently to
wade throughwater knee deep. There are 40
regulations by which, proriielurs are obi. ed TO
lay bridges OVER The canals. that conduct the
waters from the rivers TO the fields SO lhat The
| roads are often Inundated, and su.ris times i'm.
passai,ie. irrigation va, practi.ed BIZ Indian
inhabitants ot Cm,ii, before ia, invasion of Tie
Sparl2fds. ii IS perfectly understood th,ou..I
Out Chill, The natnie of the climate tcule ring
THIS mode ut culture almost absolutely nvcess.,-
~. During tic summer II never rains and
'he ,h"iuer stoimS so frequent ca tie easI side
OF the Andes, though head oCcasi0naiiy il. III
S"l"iiieras, are never known 10 descend into
The western yaiiits. Every part of Cbiii which
is susceptible OF irrigation. whatever be the.
nature al lis SOIL produces the fruits OF The
EARN win inAui'ance hever before rema, Ac Il
Ia any part OF the world. Wheat Yields com
monty fuiiy anu iIity times tie seed. and IN the
valley of AconCa=na and some other fertile
| spots so and even 100 .nii.
The house 10 which nay Ruietcer conducted
me, was large farm house, enclosed in u court
| yaiC shaded 10y some fine trees i rpspecia.
| bic old couple, ana a young wte and sisters.
| received my conductor with snuitS and erpbia
! ces. IN IT, hrSt transports of JOY they aver
| looked every other object: bat rs soon rs they
perceiv ed me, they were very eloquent ia pXc,i-
| SEES and welcomes. They usitied ne into :,
| large room, where a long low table WAS spread
| with a clean table cloth and silver covers. =,
! smaller table was Immediately spread for NE
and II Was with difficulty previ lied npon th
l.J>pitabie family not to delay t.lerdiuncr until
| had diued. Tie prOiusiUn OF plate at this
house was to me surprising The dishes. plates,
and covers were OF silver and after dinner "A
large silver basin OF water was SET on the table
To wash IN. The Whole family according Ia the
custom, L afterwards ren,arke ed prevailing in
Chill, dipped their fingers into The same basin.
After dinner was shown into another room,
when found mattress spread oR the toOr. y
long ride on Il su!try day, dsposes d stranger
10 conform 10 the custom OF sleeping Ihe siesta,
and rose at o'clock perfectly rctIe SEed. On
walking out found an armed chair placed un.
dera tee i'll tie cent, and one OF ihe family
waiting with a matti Notwithstanding nv
aversion to the taste OF the herb OF Paraguay
cOnld not refuse this attention.
On The ensuing morning TOOK leave of this
family, who mad given ME very favorable
idea OF the people of their class in Chilli Our
party were mOupted on fine Fat hCiSeS and felt
exhIlerated at exchanging the slow heavy pace
of the mules, for the sa!Op u gay CHILEAN hor-
ses. TIE breed of horses IN this country is tie
ii"est IN South America. The Ch,iaii horses
are seBt iutO Peru, and even acrCss ne conti.
hent 10 Buenos Aytes, and thence 10 the Bra
zlls-ihey ate active and Vigorous and capable
OF enduring great fatigue ,iV!t hcdds " eli pro-
porto. ed, hat and hon,, the ear, small and
Pointed, tie meek short and thick tic BODY
stout and the legs closely jo;nted. he most es
tecmed do not move thcir tails, either 10 brush
away HE HES, ~ when the rider stiikes them
with the spur. The jockies 0f ChiI reverse
Onr method, aud sometimes cut Tie Sinrws so
d. is make the tiil lie close. They stand gene
| rally - hands. bust I have seen them measure
from To- to III hands. J hey aiettane.i 10 stait
instantly intO fail speed, sop suddenly aud
wheel on thelr lIannciies. ihry arc trained
| iikeNise 10 sidud when ihe rider dis<nounts
| aud they will rrmaiu outle same spot ioi hours
champing the bit. The people Of the country
are an good horsemen, aud have seen them
urge a horse iull speed down ii sleep hilicOver-
| ca with wood. We passed over two lOiiy hills,
dGi after riGing SIX hCU.s eHtcTcd The village
CUi,na, where theIc are mineral liailS mECi,
| irequcnted by iie inhabitants OF SdDliago.-
| Here we passed the sjcSid. IT, The afternoon
| we travelled along a Hat well cultivated cuun.
| tIN, "nd alter ridmS iOnr leagues, rnC.cd the
! eastern suburb OF Santiago, called he Gauadiln
| Tie hOnses ire low bni well built, and there
| appeared great tbIOng o. business We ca.
| tered Santiago by D'asuiiicrni bulge. and
| eVerN thing wore the appearance OF large
/ ana iiourishug town.
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