xxvi
CONTENTS.
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| CHAPTER XXX. | |
| The desert of Atacama—Silver mine of 'Buena Esperanza'—Invited by the manager to visit the mine—The distance from Copiapo—Decided to go—La Marca, the banker, and the stolen pistol—The journey—'Pueblo de Indios'—Indians and cigarettes—The two horsemen—Our fears—Our first relay 'Chulo'—The rediscovered mine and the murder—The mine again lost—Character of the road—The hovel of Chulo—The chamber reserved for us—Our host—Beefsteak, fresh eggs, and goats' milk—The kitchen—Supper served up—Billet's coifee—Details of manners—The invariable routine—Leave Copiapo and Valparaiso—Great animation on board—Bride and groom—Disappearance and torture—Straits of Magellan—The Fuegians—Military penal colony of Chili, Punta Arena—Mr. Riobo, the governor—The Franciscan and the Englishman—English corvette Spiteful—The officers and the Indians—Doctor Phillipi killed and eaten—Palace of the government—Inhabitants of Punta Arenas—The leopards—The guanaco—The governor's escape—Coal and auriferous quartz—A family of Patagonians—Their appearance—Kanucha—The most beautiful girl turns out a handsome boy—A second squad—Queen Nata—Her baby—Montevideo—Mr. D'Hote and the Parisian bouffes—Début at Argentine theatre in the bavards of Offenbach—Cause of non-success!—The cholera—Political events—The son of Dictator Flores of Montevideo—Fortunato Flores—The old bogy of Montevideo—An assassin and bandit—Salutary fear of the United States—I make a conquest of him—He canes the minister of foreign affairs—Exiled for two years—Remains in Europe seven days—Consternation at his return—Takes the grade of colonel—The supper—His brothers—Horrible conduct—Rises against his father—Old Flores flies—Action of the foreigners—The hostage—Father Flores reinstated—The terms | 456 |
