The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-12-30

eel, but must here confess that on esch and
every other occasion Twas more and more ter
rifed. Some four years aftsrwsrd stood on
almost the very identical spot, and experienced
lone OF the most violent shocks ever known
there, the earth yawned. houses tumbled
about, and the sea boiled over. l wssn's
frightened that time, ~ss temporarily issase.
The climste Of Valparaiso 10 peculiar--the
thermometer will average about 400 Fsnren-
heit in Winter, the cold not being sufficiently
severe to blight vegetation, although ! have
seen ice in the streets in July. or Midwinier.
The heat Of summer 10 at times intease, but
ltsmpered BY the sea. breeze. ;. n .e}
The fruits srs delicious and various the
strawberry grows to mammoth size, and !
have seen them nesriy as large a. the bowl of
m ordinary wins-glass, and their favor is
very 6sa. CuYrsnts, gooseberries and cher
ries likewise abound the figs are luscious, as
are the nectanines, grapes, and pears and mel
DIS Of all varieties Of tropical fruits there is
profusion, such as lemons, oranges, aud the
iudescribabie cheremoyas
Wrapping oneself in poncho, with sup
ply Of cigars and brandy, the one to neutral
lze the garlicky odor Of the coachman, and
the other to keep out the raw, cold air, AID
seating oneself in . volante, an ildescribable
kind Of gig, with three rawboned horses har
messed 10 il, away we 60, cickeiy-clack, over
hill and precipice for host OF hours, through
daylight and darkness, until we find ourselves
closet in by the Andes and central Cordillera
ranges, and rapidly nearing the la ge and pop.
ulous city, Santiago, the Capital iof the Re-
public and well does a visit to the Capital
repay one for the unmerciful mountain ride,
and hair-breath escapes which seem to the un.
sophiscated eye to succeed each nomentari.
Iy, from it's coinmenc ement to his journeys
end. Imagine it |! far up in the lap Of the
Andes mountains! huge city! occupying
seven square miles Of substantial dwelling
houses, fountains and bridges, and delightful
society Of beautiful and we'll informed wo-
men aud cultivated men; such is the Santiago
of the present day. Divided into squares, an
arm of the river traverses each street, cooling
II aud carrying of the garbage the houses are
generally low, aud rooted with red tiles,
which gives rather a picturesque air to the
| city they have very tn ck walls, and but few
windows, their solidity answering both pur-
poses Of security against earthquake and as
non n-conductors to the heats of Sumner
Among the more prominent Of the buildi IS,
we find the grand cathedral, constructed Of
granite, with front Of $50 feet, and is quite
an imposing structure within, it is exceeding
ly damp aud gloomy, and its pictures and al
tar ornament are far from striking. The
music is, however, 6ne, an English organ
OF exquisit tone having been recently
erected, and as there are some good voices in
the choir, the chants and symphonies are a
times delightful. The Mint is very attrac
tive and prominent building, in the Grecian
style the coming is now done through the
anss,scy OF steam, the building is partly occu :
pied BY the President, and also BY the State
officers. The churches and converts boast oil
bit little architectural beauty, and are inumer.
able, supported by the Domincsns, derceda-
rias, Augustines, Franciscans, &c. A pleas
ant town is this, truly, with its Philadelphia.
like squares-its beautiful shrubbery, SO de.
lighted in by its fair laaies--its little running
streams-its marble fountaias-its pictures.
que bridges over its tumbling torrents. and it,
sunsets, gorgeously beautiful, ~ they reAec,
their hues Of gold and orange and purple rpor
the far-of snow clad mountains. The socie.
ty Of Santiago is delightful, and perhaps the
best to be found on the South American con-
tinent. Far in the interior the women still
retain q strong nationality Of character, and
are yet free OF the exactions OF Partisan eiquet-
te, which 90 lily becomes the Spanish maiden
naturally dignifed, with an cir as fearless
a. as free from affectation as might be in.
| agined from their remoteness from the world,
they charm you with their nairete and piquan-
cy Of expression, and melt you with the ten.
dernsss Of their giances with complexion OF
pure white and red-with full black eye. and
profusion Of glossy locks, and of majestic form,
thev are most attractive women.
The mel are, like all South American men
(with few exceptions. well hammered, well
dressed-gambler. and roues no private and
no social virtues. There II one very funny
custom existing here. At certain season Of
the year the old men take to kite Aying, and
no expense is spared in Citing up the most
elaborated styles, profusely ornamented, and
at night lit up with numbsrless lanterns at
tached to them; to each 10 affixed n knife,
aid ea.h kite flyer does his utmost to cut his
neighbours kite string. This is the Sunday
afternoon amussmeLt, and the old gentlemen
are IN great glee when they can cut loose their
neighbor's property. teta @
MANILA.
TIE natives are swarthy in color, Of medi-
um size, and exceedingly robust, though 1.-THE
and active. They are very intelligent, readi-
ly catching 1t European idess, but not having
the perseverance, Of the Chinese, are outdons
/ by them in mechanical and commercial pur-
suits. In temperament quiet, taking the world
easily, but when excited, violent to frenzy,
stopping It nothing to crafty revenge. Hin-
gul.r enough, they possess none Of the char
teristics Of feature or character Of the Chinese,
although % near neighbers. Indeed, there
exists strong antipathy between the two peo-
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