126 A Ride across the Uega 
Nature applies her colours in such districts. Riding across the 
vega, at one time you may traverse acres of golden marigold, 
perhaps half a mile to the right the land is pink for hundreds of 
yards with a beautiful large madder or again, crimson with tre-foil, 
whilst to the left, maybe, it is as white as snow with waving 
camomile. As you leave the grasslands and traverse the lower 
spurs of the fallows, whole hillsides are covered with bright 
yellow mustard or big white daisies. Perhaps one of the most 
remarkable effects is that produced by the small blue, yellow and 
white convolvulus (Convolvulus tricolor) with which the ground is 
carpeted so closely as to make the hillsides at a short distance 
appear light cobalt blue. In addition to these great masses of 
colour the whole plain abounds with other flowers which astonish 
and delight the traveller. Large purple iris and the diminutive 
paler-coloured one abound as does the crimson gladiolus and a 
hundred other brilliant blossoms of all shades and colours. 
Such is the country which it is my happy fate to traverse 
whenever | ride out from my dwelling of a spring morning. The 
plain is usually covered with herds of mares and cows with their 
calves and, at certain places, young bulls. Unfortunately of late 
years, vast numbers of pigs have been introduced and_ their 
unceasing digging for tuberous roots has gone far to spoil entire 
districts. The herdsmen in charge of the various animals remain 
out with them in all weathers, night and day and I number 
many old friends among them. Rarely it occurs that the men 
who thus guard the cattle are injured by one of them. Guarding 
semi-wild cattle is not altogether without its risks. As a rule, the 
cows are more dangerous than the young bulls and when a 
herdsman is damaged it is usually the act of a vaca mala, 
or ‘‘vicious cow.” Only last year an old friend in charge of 
some mares was suddenly attacked from behind by a cow and 
badly tossed, alighting on his head. I was sent for to administer 
