Beforesuckingtheyarequitethin，butafterwardstheybecomeroundandbloatedwithblood，andinthisstateareeasilycrushed。OnewhichIcaughtatIquique，fortheyarefoundinChileandPeru，wasveryempty。Whenplacedonatable，andthoughsurroundedbypeople，ifafingerwaspresented，theboldinsectwouldimmediatelyprotrudeitssucker，makeacharge，andifallowed，drawblood。Nopainwascausedbythewound。Itwascurioustowatchitsbodyduringtheactofsucking，asinlessthantenminutesitchangedfrombeingasflatasawafertoaglobularform。Thisonefeast，forwhichthebenchucawasindebtedtooneoftheofficers，keptitfatduringfourwholemonths；but，afterthefirstfortnight，itwasquitereadytohaveanothersuck。
March27th——WerodeontoMendoza。Thecountrywasbeautifullycultivated，andresembledChile。Thisneighbourhoodiscelebratedforitsfruit；andcertainlynothingcouldappearmoreflourishingthanthevineyardsandtheorchardsoffigs，peaches，andolives。Weboughtwater-melonsnearlytwiceaslargeasaman’shead，mostdeliciouslycoolandwell-flavoured，forahalfpennyapiece；andforthevalueofthreepence，halfawheelbarrowfulofpeaches。Thecultivatedandenclosedpartofthisprovinceisverysmall；
thereislittlemorethanthatwhichwepassedthroughbetweenLuxanandthecapital。Theland，asinChile，owesitsfertilityentirelytoartificialirrigation；anditisreallywonderfultoobservehowextraordinarilyproductiveabarrentraversiaisthusrendered。
WestayedtheensuingdayinMendoza。Theprosperityoftheplacehasmuchdeclinedoflateyears。Theinhabitantssay“itisgoodtolivein，butverybadtogrowrichin。”Thelowerordershavethelounging，recklessmannersoftheGauchosofthePampas；andtheirdress，riding-gear，andhabitsoflife，arenearlythesame。Tomymindthetownhadastupid，forlornaspect。Neithertheboastedalameda，northescenery，isatallcomparablewiththatofSantiago；buttothosewho，comingfromBuenosAyres，havejustcrossedtheunvariedPampas，thegardensandorchardsmustappeardelightful。SirF。Head，speakingoftheinhabitants，says，“Theyeattheirdinners，anditissoveryhot，theygotosleep——andcouldtheydobetter？”IquiteagreewithSirF。Head：thehappydoomoftheMendozinosistoeat，sleepandbeidle。
March29th——WesetoutonourreturntoChile，bytheUspallatapasssituatednorthofMendoza。Wehadtocrossalongandmoststeriletraversiaoffifteenleagues。Thesoilinpartswasabsolutelybare，inotherscoveredbynumberlessdwarfcacti，armedwithformidablespines，andcalledbytheinhabitants“littlelions。”Therewere，also，afewlowbushes。Althoughtheplainisnearlythreethousandfeetabovethesea，thesunwasverypowerful；andtheheataswellasthecloudsofimpalpabledust，renderedthetravellingextremelyirksome。OurcourseduringthedaylaynearlyparalleltotheCordillera，butgraduallyapproachingthem。Beforesunsetweenteredoneofthewidevalleys，orratherbays，whichopenontheplain：