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258
ST. JAGO.
carriers, and ordered him to take ns up with
him. The man asked him how he was to be
paid our expences, as he should be five days
on the road. The governor told him he
might get that as he could, for he would not
advance him a single farthing. After taking
leave of our friendly soldier, who even now
brought us some little matters to carry with
us, we set out, and travelled about fourteen
miles the first day, and lay at night in the
open field, which is always the custom of
these people, stopping where there is plenty
of pasture and good water for the mules. The
next morning we passed over a high moun¬
tain, called Zapata; and then crossing a large
plain, we passed another mountain, very diffi-
cultfor the mules, who each carried two heavy
bales: there were above a hundred of them
in this drove. The mules of Chili are the
finest in the world; and though they are con¬
tinually upon the road, and have nothing but
what they pick up at nights, they are as fat
and sleek as high-fed horses in England. The
fourth night we lay upon a plain in sight of
St. Jago, and not above four leagues from it.
The next day, as we moved towards the city,
our master-carrier, who was naturally well