I833-] GENERAL ROSAS. 53 



disciplining several hundred men, so as to resist with success the 



attacks of the Indians. There are many stories current about the rigid 

 manner in which his laws were enforced. One of these was, that no 

 man, on penalty of being put into the stocks, should carry his knife on 

 a Sunday; this being the principal day for gambling and drinking, 

 many quarrels arose, which from the general manner of fighting with 

 the knife often proved fatal. One Sunday the Governor came in great 

 form to pay the estancia a visit, and General Rosas, in his hurry, walked 

 out to receive him with his knife, as usual, stuck in his belt. The 

 steward touched his arm, and reminded him of the law ; upon which, 

 turning to the Governor, he said he was extremely sorry, but that he 

 must go into the stocks, and that till let out, he possessed no power 

 even in his own house. After a little time the steward was persuaded 

 to open the stocks, and to let him out, but no sooner was this done, 

 than he turned to the steward and said, " You now have broken the 

 laws, so you must take my place in the stocks." Such actions as these 

 delighted the Gauchos, who all possess high notions of their own 

 equality and dignity. 



General Rosas is also a perfect horseman an accomplishment of no 

 small consequence in a country where an assembled army elected its 

 general by the following trial: A troop of unbroken horses being 

 driven into a corral, were let out through a gateway, above which was 

 a cross-bar ; it was agreed whoever should drop from the bar on one 

 of these wild animals, as it rushed out, and should be able, withoiit 

 saddle or bridle, not only to ride it, but also to bring it back to the door 

 of the corral, should be their general. The person who succeeded was 

 accordingly elected ; and doubtless made a fit general for such an army. 

 This extraordinary feat has also been performed by Rosas. 



By these means, and by conforming to the dress and habits of the 

 Gauchos, he has obtained an unbounded popularity in the country, and 

 in consequence a despotic power. I was assured by an English 

 merchant, that a man who had murdered another, when arrested and 

 questioned concerning his motive, answered, " He spoke disrespectfully 

 of General Rosas, so I killed him." At the end of a week the murderer 

 was at liberty. This doubtless was the act of the general's party, and 

 not of the general himself. 



In conversation he is enthusiastic, sensible, and very grave. His 

 gravity is carried to a high pitch : I heard one of his mad buffoons 

 (for he keeps two, like the barons of old) relate the following anecdote : 

 " I wanted very much to hear a certain piece of i music, so I went to the 

 general two or three times to ask him ; he said to me, ' Go about your 

 business, for I am engaged.' I went a second time ; he said, ' If you 

 come again I will punish you.' A third time I asked, and he laughed. 

 I rushed out of the tent, but it was too late ; he ordered two soldiers to 

 catch and stake me. I begged by all the saints in heaven he would let 

 me off; but it would not do; when the general laughs he spares 

 neither mad man nor sound." The poor flighty gentleman looked quite 

 dolorous at the very recollection of the staking. This is a very severe 

 punishment ; four posts are driven into the ground, and the man is 



