52 MEMOIR OP 



returns it to the lender. Their bed is a hide 

 stretched on the ground; and often they have 

 neither house nor furniture. When spirits are sold 

 in any house, it is called a Pulperias ; and these 

 are the great rendezvous for dissipation and play. 

 The whole company is usually invited to drink ; a 

 large vessel is filled with brandy, and passed round 

 the circle. This ceremony is repeated as long as 

 they have a farthing, and no one is excused. They 

 have the greatest disinclination to any employment 

 which they cannot pursue on horseback, and at the 

 gallop. In fact they can scarcely walk, and never 

 do so without repugnance. "When they assemble at 

 the pulperias, or elsewhere, it is on horseback, 

 though they may converse for hours. When they 

 fish, it is always on horseback, even when they 

 throw the net, in the middle of the water. When 

 they draw water from the well, they attach the cord 

 to the horse, and don't dismount. Should they want 

 mortar, and not more than would go into a hat, 

 they bruise it with the horse's feet, without dis- 

 mounting ; in short, they do every thing on horse- 

 back, and hence are the first of horsemen. Their 

 feats with the lasso are well known." 



From these slight sketches it will be seen, that 

 whether in relation to the pure Spaniards, the 

 mixed breeds, or the native Indians, these investi* 

 gations of Azara are of the most important charac- 

 ter, and will be highly prized by every one inte- 

 rested in the natural history of our race. Man is 

 here found in one of the rudest states in which he 



