The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register. (Wilmington, Del.) 1824-1825, 1825-01-20
CHILLI, PERU AND MEXICO.
From Capt. HIS poyage.
rcosrrsuEp rnoa oun LAST

the summit of the last pass, whence we COM
manded full view of the. Andes. we MAD
previously seen their snowy peaks only, and
from great way off, at sea; but had now the
satisfaction in viewing them from top to bot
tom. at a distance calculated to give FULL Ct
feet to their height. As the plain from which
the mountains take their rise is not much
elevated above the sea, none of their altitude
is lost. as when the surrounding country IS
itself very high, and we could count the
various ranges, hve or six in number tower
ing one above another, i'll magnificent r-
regularity. Nothing in mountain scenery
could be finer or less within the reach OF
verbal description.
On our way across the plain towards the
city, we overlook party OF soldiers conduct
ing number of Spanish prisoners of war
towards the capital. They had been recent.
Nv taken in battle in Peru, then the seat OF
war between the Chilians and Royalists AS
there will be occasion in the next chapter, to
give some account Of the rise and progress of
the CHILEAN expedition against Peru, it is
needless to dwell upon it at present.
We found the state of society in Santiago.
as might be expected, superior to that Of
the Port. The inhabitants are more veal
thy and better educated, and know more of
what is passing in other parts of the world;
their manners are more polished; their dress
is in better fashion, and they are much more
commodiously lodged. They resemble the
inhabitants of Valparaiso, however, in their
kindness to strangers, and, above all, in their
indulgence and consideration for those who
speak the languageAimperfectly The city
is divided into quadras or solid squares by
streets crossing one at right angles; the
houses are fiat rooted, and of one story only,
with a neat parapet running along the front
above the cornice; they are all whitewashcd
and the streets being kept perfectly clean,
nothing can exceed the neatness ofthis most
regular town. The houses arc quadrangle
lar, and all the rooms may be entered from
square court in the middle, called the Pa
ito, or by doors of communication from ono
to the other. The entrance from the street
is by broad, and generally an ornamental
porch, on either side OF which are the stables
and coach house. The drawing and dining
rooms occupy that side of the Patio fronting
the entrance to the ceurt, and the bedrooms
and contingencies the other two sides. III
the hot season, an awning is drawn over the
Patio, which contributes greatly to the cool
ness Of the rooms. Behind every house lies
a garden, beyond which runs clear rapid
stream.
IN Jan--I was introduced to family this
morning, long known to strangers for their
hospitality and useful friendships
were seated in the corner of room, kept al
most dark, with a view to the exclusion Of
the heat. 1t is the fashion of the counti
for the ladies to crowd into corners, or to
plant themselves in determined lines along
the walls, not a little formidable to strang-
ers Upon the present occasion, one Of the
ladies perceiying the conversation to be hurt
: by this arrangement, rose and went to the
e.piano forte; the rest remained at their nee
~ lie, as ever, but presently some other vsi-
il'lS3rs coming in, the parties became internix-
! ed, and the stiffness, which had chilled us at
first, yielded Il more cheerful and falnil-
jar intercourse, which the young ladies en-
Z nraged with much spirit. Just as mat
Mrs had fallen into this agreeable train, a
merry looking old gentleman came skipping
into the room with jest in his mouth, and
the easy familiarity Of a priviledgcd person.
He was clergyman of seventy, but posses
sed of the health and animation Of seventeen,
and cracked his jokes to the right and left
without mercy, seeming to set the whole com
pany at defiance. For some time, he carried
all before him, and the manner III which
he quzzed the company way divcrtiEg At
length however, some Of the Young ladies
rallied, and being rather too near the truth
retorted smartly, and with interests. The
good natured father was enchanted with tl.cii
vivacity, and stimulated them to fresh attacks
by an affectaton Of suffering from their Sc
verify, and at length took his leave, though
unanimously entrcated to remain.
We were curious to know who this OH
gentleman was and learnt that he had been
for upwards Of fifty years the pastor Of a re-
mote Indian village, where he had acquired
by his talents and his virtne, an extensive
and important influence over the natii cs
whose condition he had greatly improved
by converting them to christianity, and in
troduced education, together with the art,
of cival life.
In the evening, about sunset, every one
hocked to the Alameda, orpublic walk, call
ed also the Tajamar from one Gifts sidcafolm
ing an embankment to prevent the inundatioI
of the river Elcypocho, stream, insignin
cant in winter, but violent torrent when thu
SHOWS Of the Andes begin to melt, Th
promenade consists Of a wide and finely keep
carriage way, with broad walk on each sid'
of it, shaded by adouble row Of lofty poplars
Under the trees there stretches a low wall
on which the ladies, who generally appea
in full dress, spread their handkerchief
with great care, and affected formality, be
fore they venture to sit down. Every par
of the walk commands view of the Andes
which. though not less than fifty or sixt
miles distant, seem to overhang the town.
IS Ia, ~,