102 BANDA ORIENTAL. [CHAP. vin. 



of men who, being attached to Rosas, were disgusted with the 

 governor Balcarce to the number of seventy left the city, and with the 

 cry of Rosas the whole country took arms. The city was then 

 blockaded, no provisions, cattle, or horses were allowed to enter ; 

 besides this, there was only a little skirmishing, and a few men daily 

 killed. The outside party well knew that by stopping the supply oi 

 meat they would certainly be victorious. General Rosas could not 

 have known of this rising ; but it appears to be quite consonant with the 

 plans of his party. A year ago he was elected governor, but he refused 

 it, unless the Sala would also confer on him extraordinary powers. 

 This was refused, and since then his party have shown that no other 

 governor can keep his place. The warfare on both sides was avowedly 

 protracted till it was possible to hear from Rosas. A note arrived a 

 few days after I left Buenos Ayres, which stated that the General 

 disapproved of peace having been broken, but that he thought the 

 outside party had justice on their side. On the bare reception of this, 

 the Governor, ministers; and part of the military, to the number of some 

 hundreds, fled from the city. The rebels entered, elected a new 

 governor, and were paid for their services to the number ot 5,500 

 men. From these proceedings, it was clear that Rosas ultimately would 

 become the dictator : to the term king, the people in this, as in other 

 republics, have a particular dislike. Since leaving South America we 

 have heard that Rosas has been elected with powers, and for a time 

 altogether opposed to the constitutional principles of the republic. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



BANDA ORIENTAL AND PATAGONIA.' 



Excursion to Colonia del Sacramiento Value of an Estancia- -Cattle, how 

 counted Singular Breed of Oxen Perforated Pebbles Shepherd 

 Dogs Horses Broken-in, Gauchos Riding Character of Inhabitants 

 Rio Plata Flocks of Butterflies Aeronaut Spiders Phosphorescence 

 of the Sea Port Desire Guanaco Port St. Julian Geology of 

 Patagonia Fossil Gigantic Animal Types of Organization Constant 

 Change in the Zoology of America Causes of Extinction. 



HAVING been delayed for nearly a fortnight in the city, I was glad to 

 escape on board a packet bound for Monte Video. A town in a state 

 of blockade must always be a disagreeable place of residence ; in this 

 case moreover there were constant apprehensions from robbers within. 

 The sentinels were the worst of all ; for, from their office and from 

 having arms in their hands, they robbed with a degree of authority which 

 other men could not imitate. 



Our passage was a very long and tedious one. The Plata looks like 

 8 noble estuary on the map; but is in truth a poor affair. A wide 



