Polynesian., 1844-07-27
LEAVES FROM MEMORY'S NOTE BOOK.
U MBER 3.

covered as far as the eye can reach. from
their SUBMITS downward, with a deep belt of
snow, on which the sun glitters with the ra-
dance of diamonds. The Vale of Paradise!
poor indeed must nave been the land previ-
ously visited on this coast, when the Spanish
explorers, pleased with the contrast, gave
this name to the bay. Its hills are red, sun
burnt, and cheerless, with Just enough of
vegetation to show that the soil possesses
fruitfdlness, when nurtured by the hand of
man. 1t would require, however, much wa
ter, labor and expense, to cover these steep
and lofty hills with verdure. Some pretty
gardens are to be seen in the rear, and high
above the town these belong chiefly to the
foreign merchants, the richest of whom,
here, live in much luxury. The hills on
which the southern portion Of the town is
built, are much broken up into precipitous
%ravines, or, as they are termed in the Ian
guage of the country, "quebradas." These
are narrow, allowing frequently of only a
footpath; yet on either side, wherever houses
can be made to stand, they have been erect
ed. In a country so prolific Of earthquakes,
these residences appear singularly insecure;
but they are chiefly those of the lowest or
ders, and built Of cane and mud, can be al
most as speedily built as overthrow. The
doors Of some ovcrhang the roofs of others.
Row after row, and group after group, rise
one above another, just where the nature of
the dcclivity, and the whims of their con-
structors permitted. There are many such
streets, in and about the town, and are all
densely populated, and they give it a singu-
lar appearance, reminding one of the manner
in which chimney-swallows build their nests.
In heavy rains (Which are rare,) torrents of
water rush down their narrow beds, doing
no little damage to the frail structures which
line the ways. Not unfrequently, after a
storm, small quantities of virgin gold are
found. The soil every where abounds with
it, in minute grains, but not in a sufficient
quantity to reward the present method of
extracting it: Valparaiso has, however,
some fine streets, and tolerable public build
ings, but it is Of too recent growth to exhibit
structures to compare with those of Lima or
Santiago. Its population is now 10000,
having doubled itself within twenty years.
The southern portion is built on q sandy
plain, called the Almendral. Here the streets
are wide, and the houses spacious; some are
of three stories, the upper of which, on ac-
count Of earthquakes, are built Of reeds,
and other light and yielding materials, nice
ly joined together, and the whole handsome
ly painted, or plastered. At the foot Of the
Almendral are gardens, where, for a triAing
sum, the visitor can indulge in eating lus-
cious grapes from the vines. Omnibuses of
the most wretched and dirty description, arc
constantly running thither from the port.
They are a great novelty for Chill, and
thousands use them as pleasure vehicles,
for which, besides their ~cheapness, they are
better adapted than the heavy, clumsy car
riages of the country. The streets of the
port are narrow, and badly paved; but wheel
ed vehicles are not numerous, mules being
chiefly employed in the transportation of
merchandise. Business here wears a lively
aspect. The streets are crowded with Eu-
ropeans, and other foreigners. The French
form quite a little colony, and in the many
little shops which line the chief street, the
lively cOuntenanccs of French women are to
be seen. English, Americans, and Germans,
are also numerous. In fact, the heaviest