Besides this, he introduced me to several families, where I passed many very pleasant hours, and had the opportunity of inspecting some excellent collections of mussel-shells and insects.
Our departure was again deferred from day to day; so that, although, in this manner, I spent fifteen days in Chili, I saw nothing more of it than Valparaiso and its immediate neighbourhood.
As Valparaiso is situated to the south of the Equator, and, as is well known, the seasons of the southern hemisphere are exactly the contrary of those of the northern, it was now autumn.

I saw (34 degrees South latitude) almost the same kinds of fruits and vegetables as those we have in Germany, especially grapes and melons.

The apples and pears were not so good nor so abundant as with us.
In conclusion, I will here give a list of the prices which travellers have to pay for certain things:-- A room that is at all decent in a private house costs four or five reaux (2s.) a day; the table d'hote a piaster (4s.); but washing is more expensive than anything else, on account of the great scarcity of water, for every article, large or small, costs a real (6d.).

A passport, too, is excessively dear, being charged eight Spanish dollars (1 pounds 12s.)..