A don'3 establishment. 55 



meals with the family, and a room is assigned him, 

 where, with the horsecloths belonging to his recaclo 

 or saddle of the Pampas), he makes his bed. It is 

 curious how similar circumstances produce such 

 similar results in manners. At the Cape of Grood 

 Hope the same hospitality, and very nearly the 

 same points of etiquette, ai'e universally observed. 

 The difference, however, between the character of 

 the Spaniard and that of the Dutch boor is shown, 

 by the foi-mer never asking his guest a single ques- 

 tion beyond the strictest rule of politeness, while 

 the honest Dutchman demands where he has been, 

 where he is going, what is his business, and even 

 how many brothers, sisters, or children he may hap- 

 pen to have. 



Shortly after our arrival at Don Juan's, one of 

 the large herds of cattle was driven in towards the 

 house, and three beasts were picked out to be 

 slaughtered for the supply of the establishment. 

 These half-wild cattle are very active ; and know- 

 ing full well the fatal lazo, they led the horses a 

 long and laborious chase. After witnessing the 

 rude wealth displayed in the number of cattle, 

 men, and horses, Don Juan's miserable house was 

 quite curious. The floor consisted of hardened 

 mud, and the windows were without glass ; the sit- 

 ting-room boasted only of a few of the roughest 

 chairs and stools, with a couple of tables. The 

 supper, although several strangers were present, 

 consisted of two huge piles, one of roast beef, the 

 other of boiled, with some pieces of pumpkin: be- 

 sides this latter, there was no other vegetable, and 

 not even a morsel of bread. For drinking, a large 

 earthenware jug of water served the whole party. 

 Yet this man was the owner of several square 

 miles of land, of which nearly every acre would 

 produce corn and, with a little trouble, all the com- 



