The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-12

stopped over night on the other side there no tell
ing when we should have got home as the winter
had fairly set in and the Andes in two hours had
been Blocked up with snow About three r. M. we
halted az the copper mining ranch of a Spanard,
named Marsnei, whose meanness and inhospitaly
have no parallel and next morning started again.
This day we encoun cred the worst travelling OF the
whole trip Four times we were compelled by The
dangerous character OF the path 10 take the pack Off
the mules and carry il by hand; and mountain
torrents had to be crossed on nothing but few
slender poies bri cling deep chasms through which
the water plunged with deafening noise. Our animals
were got across with great difficulty; but
patience and pluck overcome all obstacles and next
Chile and gladly entered Curico
The long journey almost ended tomorrow we 60
ny ran 10 Santago It Is pleasant to think OF the ex.
citing experiences or the trip We have travelled
about twelve hundred miles, one thousand OF which
were done in the saddle. During the five weeks of
our absence we have slept but five times in house,
all the rest of the time camping out and running
own mess In the Andes and on the pampas. We have
had glorious hunt and bring home with us, III addi-
ton TO several magnificent horses. gifts from our
friends OF the other side, two lions, aguar, number
OF ostriches, many curious smaller animals and a
splendid collection OF beautiful birds
IL is impossible to give an adequate idea OF the
wonderful phenomena OF the Andes. Their snow
clad peaks their black cliffs frownng down on lovely
valleys nestled alone among the silent Businesses,
the little lakes that sparkle far up on the Icy
table lands the torrents and cascades and sunshine
and tempests, all form bOundess field OF cOntem-
patiOn that bewilders the mind and OverpOwers
man with the sense OF his litteness. There are vol
canic tracts that look II hell had broken ont and
CONCEALED there. There are pits three hundred feet
IN diameter and five hundred feet deep, down per-
pendicular walls like those of WELL to black still
waters whose depth has never been sounded. There
are springs OF asphaltum that verge from
the mountain side, covering with their
pitchy substance in place an area
shines the surface gets soft. and birds that light
upon 1t are neXtrcaby fastened. In the morning
person can walk over il, but by noon nothing can
touch IL without sticking, and in all probability
remaining there. There mines of silver and
copper aud lead on every hand unwOrkcd only be-
the cordillera. Boundless treasures lie locked up
IN almost every chain, awaiting the key of inter-
nal improvements to open the wilderness it'll rail-
roads and highways, over which supplies may be
conveyed to communities and metals brought down
to the coast. No person who visits South America
cannot cross them. Travelling with mules Is easy
and cheap, and the lessons OF such trip are in
valuable.
Chile is the California of the Argentine Confedera
ton and the painpas are the prairies that snilngy
invite the husDandman and capitalist to open high
Already the subject of constructing a railroad from
Chile to Buenos Ayres Is under consideration. Sur
veys have been made clearly demonstrating the
practicability OF the undertaking. aud few years
more VIII probably witness another Pacific Railroad
binding the two oceans together and cementing the
southern republics OF this hemisphere. The work Is
talked OF not a visionary scheme, but as an under
taking to be accomplished as soon as the Spanish
question and the Paraguayan war are settled.
company Is negotiating to construct telegraph
across the Andes, and this will doubtless be built
shortly. The military road now being constructed
traffic between this side and Buen0s Ayres, but
railroad would prove source of almost ncalculable
wealth and would make on the pampas OF the Argen-
tlne Confederation rich and powerful people.