THE PEOPLE AND THE FARMS 115 



open fireplace still common in this part of the country. 

 Any other form of fireplace would not be suitable 

 when the fuel consists of furze and turf. 



Here I had the feeling of being back in one of 

 those primitive cattle-breeding establishments, or 

 estancias as they are called, on the South American 

 pampas, where every one, dogs and cats included, 



CORNISH FARM-HOUSES 



lived in the big smoke-blackened kitchen by day, and 

 the fuel was dried stalks of Cardoon thistle and 

 various other stout annuals, with dried cow-dung for 

 peat, and greasy strong-smelling bones of dead horses, 

 cows and sheep. It was like an illusion, so that I was 

 continually on the point of addressing the children 

 playing on the floor in Spanish, or in gaucho lingo, to 

 name every dog " Pechicho " and call " Mees-mees " 

 instead of " Pussy-pussy " to a cat. 



