BANDA ORIENTAL. 181 



king, the people in this, as in other repuhlics, 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. 



Excursion to Colonia del Sacramiento — Value of an Estancia — 

 Cattle, how counted — Singular Breed of Oxen — Perforated Peb- 

 bles — Shepherd Dogs — Horses broken-in, Gauchos riding — 

 Character of Inhabitants — Kio Plata— Flocks of Butterflies- 

 Aeronaut Spiders — Phosphorescence of the Sea — Port Desire 

 — Gnanaco — Port St. Julian — Geology of Patagonia — Fossil 

 gigantic Animal — Types of Organization constant — Change in 

 the Zoology of America — Causes of Extinction. 



BANDA ORIENTAL AND PATAGONIA. 



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 con- 

 stant apprehensions from robbers within. The sen- 

 tinels 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 veiy long and tedious one. 

 The Plata looks like a noble estuary on the map, 

 but is, in truth, a poor affair. A wide expanse of 

 muddy water has neither grandeur nor beauty. At 

 one time of the day, the two shores, both of which 

 are extremely low, could just be distinguished from 

 the deck. On arriving at Monte Video, I found that 

 the Beagle would not sail for some time, so I pre- 

 pared for a short excursion in this part of Banda 

 Oriental. Everything which I have said about the 



