THE PAMPAS THISTLE. 189 



I solemnly assured liim that they did not. They 

 were absolutely delighted. The captain exclaim- 

 ed, " Look there ! a man who has seen half the 

 world says it is the case ; we always thought so, 

 but now we know it." My excellent judgment in 

 combs and beauty procured me a most hospitable 

 reception ; the captain forced me to take his bed, 

 and he would sleep on his recado. 



2lst. — Started at sunrise, and rode slowly du- 

 ring the whole day. The geological nature of this 

 part of the pi'ovince was different from the rest, 

 and closely resembled that of the Pampas. In 

 consequence, there were immense beds of the this- 

 tle, as well as of the cardoon : the whole country, 

 indeed, may be called one great bed of these plants. 

 The two sorts grow separately, each plant in com- 

 pany with its own kind. The cardoon is as high 

 as a horse's back, but the Pampas thistle is often 

 higher than the crown of the rider's head. To 

 leave the road for a yard is out of the question; 

 and the road itself is partly, and in some cases en- 

 tirely, closed. Pasture, of course, there is none; if 

 cattle or horses once enter the bed, they are for the 

 time completely lost. Hence it is very hazardous 

 to attempt to drive cattle at this season of the year; 

 for when jaded enough to face the thistles, they rush 

 among them and are seen no more. In these dis- 

 tricts there are very few estancias, and these few 

 are situated in the neighbourhood of damp valleys, 

 where, fortunately, neither of these overwhelming 

 plants can exist. As night came on before we ar- 

 rived at our journey's end, we slept at a misera- 

 ble little hovel inhabited by the poorest people. 

 The extreme though rather formal courtesy of our 

 host and hostess, considering their gi-ade of life, 

 was quite delightful. 



November 22d. — Arrived at an estancia on the 



