It was almost a pity to see the sun shining constantly over so useless a country; such splendid weather ought to have brightened fields and pretty gardens.

The next day we reached the valley of Copiapo.

I was heartily glad of it; for the whole journey was a continued source of anxiety; it was most disagreeable to hear, whilst eating our own suppers, our horses gnawing the posts to which they were tied, and to have no means of relieving their hunger.

To all appearance, however, the animals were quite fresh; and no one could have told that they had eaten nothing for the last fifty-five hours.
I had a letter of introduction to Mr.Bingley, who received me very kindly at the Hacienda of Potrero Seco.

This estate is between twenty and thirty miles long, but very narrow, being generally only two fields wide, one on each side the river.