THE GUASO. 336 



beings. Chile is the more civilized of the two 

 countries, and the inhabitants, in consequence, 

 have lost much individual character. Gradations 

 in rank are much more strongly marked : the Guaso 

 does not by any means consider every man his 

 equal ; and I was quite surjirised to find that my 

 companions did not like to eat at the same time 

 with myself. This feeling of inequality is a neces- 

 sary consequence of the existence of an aristocracy 

 of wealth. It is said that some few of the greater 

 landowners possess from five to ten thousand 

 pounds sterling per annum : an inequality of riches 

 which I believe is not met with in any of the cat- 

 tle-breeding countries eastward of the Andes. A 

 traveller does not here meet that unbounded hos- 

 pitality which refuses all payment, but yet is so 

 kindly offered that no scruples can be raised in 

 accepting it. Almost every house in Chile will 

 receive you for the night, but a trifle is expected 

 to be given in the morning ; even a rich man will 

 accept two or three shillings. The Gaucho, al- 

 though he may be a cut-throat, is a gentleman ; 

 the Guaso is in few respects better, but at the same 

 time a vulgar, ordinary fellow. The two men, al- 

 though employed much in the same manner, are 

 different in their habits and attire ; and the pecu- 

 liarities of each are universal in their respective 

 countries. The Gaucho seems part of his horse, 

 and scorns to exert himself excepting when on its 

 back ; the Guaso may be hired to work as a la- 

 bourer in the fields. The former lives entirely on 

 animal food, the latter almost Avholly on vegeta- 

 ble. We do not here see the white boots, the 

 broad drawers, and scarlet chilipa, the picturesque 

 costume of the Pampas. Here, common trousers 

 are protected by black and green worsted leggins. 

 The poncho, however, is common to both. The 



