THISTLE BEDS. 157 



row, and thatchetl with reeds ; they have only two 

 wheels, the diameter of which in some cases is as 

 much as ten feet. Each is drawn by six bullocks, 

 which are urged on by a goad at least twenty feet 

 long : this is suspended from within the roof; for 

 the wheel bullocks a smaller one is kept ; and for 

 the intennediate pair, a point projects at right an- 

 gles from the middle of the long one. The whole 

 apparatus looked like some implement of war. 



September 28th. — We passed the small town of 

 Luxan, where there is a wooden bridge over the 

 river — a most unusual convenience in this country. 

 We passed also Areco. The plains apjieared level, 

 but Avere not so in fact, for in various places the 

 horizon was distant. The estancias are here wide 

 apart ; for there is little good pasture, owing to the 

 land being covered by beds either of an acrid clo- 

 ver, or of the great thistle. The latter, well known 

 fi'om the animated description given by Sir F. Head, 

 were at this time of the year two thirds grown ; in 

 some parts they were as high as the horse's back, 

 but in others they had not yet sprung up, and the 

 ground was bare and dusty as on a turnpike-road. 

 The clumps were of the most brilliant green, and 

 they made a pleasing miniature-likeness of broken 

 forest land. When the thistles are full grown, the 

 gi-eat beds are impenetrable, except by a few tracks, 

 as intricate as those in a labyrinth. These are only 

 known to the robbers, who at this season inhabit 

 them, and sally forth at night to rob and cut throats 

 with impunity. Upon asking at a house whether 

 robbers were numerous, I was answered, " The 

 thistles are not up yet ;" the meaning of which re- 

 ply was not at first very obvious. There is little 

 interest in passing over these tracts, for they are 

 inhabited by few animals or birds, excepting the 

 bizcacha and its friend the little owl. 

 O 



