270 Recent Journey in South America. [Marcu, 
probability have remained several days without meeting with any assist- 
ance in regaining it. Indeed, more than one European has been lost in 
these extensive solitudes, and died from starvation. My length of resi- 
dence in the country had enabled me to acquire e#ough of the Gaucho 
habits to prevent me from feeling any great dread of this; but still my 
situation under such circumstances would have been any thing but a 
pleasant one. 
On these extensive plains I frequently had occasion to observe the 
singular effect of the “ mirage,” described by travellers over the Ara- 
bian deserts; and several times our whole company were deceived by 
it. On one occasion I perceived before me, apparently at the distance 
of about a mile, two low trees, of singular appearance, which I turned 
to inquire the name of, and found that they were called Los Quebrachos ; 
but on turning the next instant to look at them again there was no such 
object within sight. At first I could not believe my senses, but was 
informed that the occurrence was quite a common one. And in fact the 
trees themselves were, as I afterwards found, at a distance of about two 
leagues from us at the time I saw the illusive appearance, and were 
completely hidden from actual view by an undulation in the surface of 
the ground. The explanation of this phenomenon is now well known, 
and need not be more particularly referred to. But another curious 
instance of the effects of the mirage is worth relating. One morning, 
about eleven o’clock, we suddenly perceived, at a considerable distance 
a-head, what we conceived to be the figure of an Indian, and as there 
was little doubt that we should soon see a party of them approach us 
with hostile intentions, we did not wait for the appearance of more, but 
instantly prepared to meet their attack. This was done by, in the first 
place, arresting the progress of all the carts, and causing them to be 
drawn up ina double line, so as to serve as a sort of fortification, 
behind which each man was posted with his musket, and prepared for a 
desperate resistance. On riding up and down, to see that all were in 
due order, I soon perceived that more was to be apprehended from the 
awkward movements of our men themselves, (most of whom were en- 
tirely unaccustomed to the use of muskets) than from the expected 
enemy. I therefore consulted with the supercargo, and it was presently 
arranged that only seven or eight of our party, who were accustomed 
to fire arms, should attempt a defence by that means, and that the rest 
should lash their knives to the end of their bullock goads, and use them 
by way of pikes—an instrument they were much more likely to handle to 
advantage. I was not long in discovering too, that our drivers were 
much better disposed to mount their horses and run away, than 
stand their ground and defend themselves: so that, to guard against an 
event of this nature, some of us were obliged to swear that we would 
shoot the very first man who did not stand his ground fairly, and take 
his chance with the rest. Presently, however, all chance of escaping 
seemed cut off, for the enemy were now seen advancing on all sides, and — 
seemed closing in upon us in a circle, carrying their long lances erect. 
Our entrenchment being complete, we awaited the onset, each with 
several loaded guns, but firmly resolved not to fire till sure of our shot — 
telling. Suddenly, however, our opponents made a dead halt, as if” 
intimidated by something in our appearance—on this our hitherto — 
cowardly drivers took courage, and shouted them on tothe combat. But 
still they remained stationary—seeming, as well as we could distinguish, 
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