Great devastation had thus been caused three years ago.
JUNE 8, 1835.
We rode on to Ballenar, which takes its name from Ballenagh in Ireland, the birthplace of the family of O'Higgins, who, under the Spanish government, were presidents and generals in Chile.

As the rocky mountains on each hand were concealed by clouds, the terrace-like plains gave to the valley an appearance like that of Santa Cruz in Patagonia.

After spending one day at Ballenar I set out, on the 10th, for the upper part of the valley of Copiapo.

We rode all day over an uninteresting country.

I am tired of repeating the epithets barren and sterile.