The miner by this means watched the very point amongst the rubbish where the stone lay.

In the evening he picked it up and carried it to his master, showing him a rich mass of silver-ore, and saying, "This was the stone on which you won a cigar by its rolling so far." MAY 23, 1835.
We descended into the fertile valley of Coquimbo, and followed it till we reached an Hacienda belonging to a relation of Don Jose, where we stayed the next day.

I then rode one day's journey farther, to see what were declared to be some petrified shells and beans, which latter turned out to be small quartz pebbles.

We passed through several small villages; and the valley was beautifully cultivated, and the whole scenery very grand.

We were here near the main Cordillera, and the surrounding hills were lofty.