i$33-i SIERRA VENtANA. 7$ 



I have already said the mountain is composed of white quartz rock, 

 and with it a little glossy clay-slate is associated. At the height of a 

 few hundred feet above the plain, patches of conglomerate adhered m 

 several places to the solid rock. They resembled in hardness, and in 

 the nature of the cement, the masses which may be seen daily forming 

 on some coasts. I do not doubt these pebbles were in a similar 

 manner aggregated, fit a period when the great calcareous formation 

 was depositing beneath the surrounding sea. We may believe that the 

 jagged and battered forms of the hard quartz yet show the effects of 

 the waves of an open ocean. 



I was, on the whole, disappointed with this ascent. Even the view 

 was insignificant ; a plain like the sea, but without its beautiful colour 

 and defined outline. The scene, however, was novel, and a little 

 danger, like salt to meat, gave it a relish. That the danger was very 

 little was certain, for my two companions made a good fire a thing 

 which is never done when it is suspected that Indians are near. I 

 reached the place of our bivouac by sunset, and drinking much mat6, 

 and smoking several cigaritos, soon made up my bed for the night. The 

 wind was very strong and cold, but I never slept more comfortably. 



September loth. In the morning, having fairly scudded before the 

 gale, we arrived by the middle of the day at the Sauce posta. On the 

 road we saw great numbers of deer, and near the mountain a guanaco. 

 The plain, which abuts against the Sierra, is traversed by some curious 

 gulleys, of which one was about twenty feet wide, and at least thirty 

 deep ; we were obliged in consequence to make a considerable circuit 

 before we could find a pass. We stayed the night at the posta, the 

 conversation, as was generally the case, being about the Indians. The 

 Sierra Ventana was formerly a great place of resort ; and three or four 

 years ago there was much righting there. My guide had been present 

 when many Indians were killed : the women escaped to the top oi 

 the ridge, and fought most desperately with great stones ; many thus 

 saving themselves. 



September nth. Proceeded to the third posta in company with the 

 lieutenant who commanded it. The distance is called fifteen leagues ; 

 but it is only guess work, and is generally overstated. The road was 

 uninteresting, over a dry grassy plain; and on our left hand at a 

 greater or less distance there were some low hills ; a continuation of 

 which we crossed close to the posta. Before our arrival we met a 

 large herd of cattle and horses, guarded by fifteen soldiers ; but we 

 were told many had been lost. It is very difficult to drive animals 

 across the plains ; for if in the night a puma, or even a fox, approaches, 

 nothing can prevent the horses dispersing in every direction ; and a 

 storm will have the same effect. A short time since, an officer left 

 Buenos Ayres with five hundred horses, and when he arrived at the 

 army he had under twenty. 



Soon afterwards we perceived, by the cloud of dust, that a party of 

 horsemen were coming toward us ; when far distant my companions 

 knew them to be Indians by their long hair streaming behind their 

 tacks. The Indians generally have a fillet round their heads, but 



