Shortly before this, two Indians joined us, who were travelling from a distant mission to Valdivia concerning some lawsuit.

One was a good-humoured old man, but from his wrinkled beardless face looked more like an old woman than a man.

I frequently presented both of them with cigars; and though ready to receive them, and I daresay grateful, they would hardly condescend to thank me.

A Chilotan Indian would have taken off his hat, and given his "Dios le page!" The travelling was very tedious, both from the badness of the roads and from the number of great fallen trees, which it was necessary either to leap over or to avoid by making long circuits.

We slept on the road, and next morning reached Valdivia, whence I proceeded on board.
A few days afterwards I crossed the bay with a party of officers, and landed near the fort called Niebla.