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Monday May 14th
Turned up in good Season this morning, and as I expected the high Cliffs and Mountains in the rear of Valparaiso were in Sight, there was in company with us ten or twelve other Calafornians bound in, and as we near the Shore the Sides and rigging of the Ship is filled with the passengers viewing the Scene, the Shore is bold and the land remarkably high, rising from 100 to 1000 ft above the level of the Sea, with the lofty Andes to be seen in the back ground, their tops covered with everlasting Snow, presenting a scene worthy of of admiration, we have a fresh and fair wind, and approach the harbour fast. it is hidden by a point or neck of land which makes out some ways and on which is the Light House, The excitement on board is intense and expectation is at the highest point, to ascertain what will be our fate with regard to this voyage, we double the point and great is our disappointment at the first view of Valparaiso, it presenting no picturesque or interesting view from the Ship, the City for so tis calld is situated at the base of those high hills which run down to the harbour, and is of a half circular form corresponding with the cove or harbour, the houses appear to rise one above another and present. the appearance of a Book Case with the wide Shelves at the bottom and the narrow ones at the top I pay my quarter get into a Boat and am soon alongside the landing place, there are two principal streets which run paralel with the water, and presents quite a business like appearance and look very much Americanified the rest of the town rises up almost perpendicular the town is full of strangers and the inhabitants are reaping a golden harvest from the Calafornians, I engaged lodgings at the Hotel Frances at the very reasonable price of one dollar and a half pr day. I visited the principal Lions of the place during my four days residence on shore and amongst the others the Fore, Main and Mizen tops small streets ascending the mountain and occupied by girls of the Town and to judge from