170 CHARLES DARWIN 



even one instance of rudeness or inhospitality. He is mod- 

 est, both respecting himself and country, but at the same 

 time a spirited, bold fellow. On the other hand, many rob- 

 beries 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 nose or eyes; 

 as is often attested by deep and horrid-looking scars. Rob- 

 beries 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, nothing can succeed without it be begun when the 

 moon is on the increase; so that half the month is lost from 

 these two causes. 



Police and justice are quite inefficient. If a man who is 

 poor commits murder and is taken, he will be imprisoned, 

 and perhaps even shot; but if he is rich and has friends, 

 he may rely on it no very severe consequence will ensue. 

 It is curious that the most respectable inhabitants of the 

 country invariably assist a murderer to escape : they seem 

 to think that the individual sins against the government, 

 and not against the people. A traveller has no protection 

 besides his fire-arms; and the constant habit of carrying 

 them is the main check to more frequent robberies. 



The character of the higher and more educated classes 

 who reside in the towns, partakes, but perhaps in a lesser 

 degree, of the good parts of the Gaucho, but is, I fear, stained 

 by many vices of which he is free. Sensuality, mockery of 

 all religion, and the grossest corruption, are far from un- 

 common. Nearly every public officer can be bribed. The 

 head man in the post-office sold forged government franks. 

 The governor and prime minister openly combined to plun- 

 der the state. Justice, where gold came into play, was 

 hardly expected by any one. I knew an Englishman, who 

 went to the Chief Justice (he told me, that not then under- 

 standing the ways of the place, he trembled as he entered 



