148 BANDA ORIENTAL. [CHAP. vin. 



or bones. Besides those which I found during my short excursions, 

 I heard of many others, and the origin of such names as "the 

 stream of the animal," "the hill of the giant," is obvious. At 

 other times I heard of the marvellous property of certain rivers, 

 which had the power of changing small bones into large; or, 

 as some maintained, the bones themselves grew. As far as I am 

 aware, not one of these animals perished, as was formerly supposed, 

 in the marshes or muddy river-beds of the present land, but their 

 bones have been exposed by the streams intersecting the subaqueous 

 deposit in which they were originally embedded. We may con- 

 clude that the whole area of the Pampas is one wide sepulchre of 

 these extinct gigantic quadrupeds. 



By the middle of the day, on the 28th, we arrived at Monte 

 Video, having been two days and a half on the road. The country 

 for the whole way was of a very uniform character, some parts 

 being rather more rocky and hilly than near the Plata. Not far 

 from Monte Video we passed through the village of Las Pietras, so 

 named from some large rounded masses of syenite. Its appearance 

 was rather pretty. In this country a few fig-trees round a group 

 of houses, and a site elevated a hundred feet above the general 

 level, ought always to be called picturesque. 



During the last six months I have had an opportunity of seeing 

 a little of the character of the inhabitants of these provinces. The 

 Gauchos, or countrymen, are very superior to those who reside in 

 the towns. The Gaucho is invariably most obliging, polite, and 

 hospitable : I did not meet with even one instance of rudeness or 

 inhospitality. He is modest, both respecting himself and country, 

 but at the same time a spirited, bold fellow. On the other hand, 

 many robberies are committed, and there is much bloodshed : the 

 habit of constantly wearing the knife is the chief cause of the 

 latter. It is lamentable to hear how many lives are lost in trifling 

 quarrels. In fighting, each party tries to mark the face of his 

 adversary by slashing his noise or eyes ; as is often attested by deep 

 and horrid-looking scars. Eobberies are a natural consequence of 

 universal gambling, much drinking, and extreme indolence. At 

 Mercedes I asked two men why they did not work. One gravely 

 said the days were too long ; the other that he was too poor. The 

 number of horses and the profusion of food are the destruction of 

 all industry. Moreover, there are so many feast-days ; and again, 



