THE BATTLE OF THE HORSES 65 



Two other Welshmen with their wives lived higher up the 

 valley, and the full strength of the colony was made up by a 

 Swede named Oscar, who acted as comisario, and an Argentine 

 who had settled on the other side of the river. To the last-named 

 gentleman Burbury paid a visit on the following day. 



Now set in another era of preparation. We purchased sheep- 

 skins and laid in a stock of mutton, and on the 25th once more 

 made a start. Before taking leave of Colohuapi I should like to 

 record my appreciation of the great kindness which the settlers 

 there extended to us especially Mr. and Mrs. William Jones, the 

 latter of whom was thoughtful enough to l3ake us a large loaf to 

 speed us on our way. On the eve of our departure we gave a 

 small dinner, at which the iiienu was as follows : Mutton piuhero, 

 made with desiccated potatoes and cabbage ; stewed apple-rings 

 and milk ; lime-juice tablets ; chocolate food ; and two tins of 

 sardines. I was very sorry not to be able to add a bowl of punch 

 to the feast, but the fact was I had with me but three bottles 

 of brandy, and those for purely medicinal purposes. 



The country round about Colohuapi is very suited for cattle- 

 breeding, but, of course, the chief difficulty encountered by the 

 colonists are those connected with transporting their produce to 

 the market, as the district is not yet in any way opened up. But 

 I hope and believe that a prosperous future lies before the young 

 settlement, and much of the good to come should certainly fall to 

 the lot of the Welshmen William and Walter Jones, whose pioneer 

 efforts deserve great reward. At present it is a hard life that the 

 colonists are obliged to lead, divided as they are by more than a 

 coujjje of hundred miles from their nearest white neighbours. One 

 could not help being struck by the solitary aspect of the two or 

 three small huts, set as they are at present on the edge of the hill- 

 encircled empty plain. 



Just as we were off from Colohuapi, the couiisano rode up antl 

 proceeded to make the necessary examination ot our horses. In 

 this connection very strict laws obtain throughout the northern 

 provinces of the Argentine l\c-j)ublic. In a cc.unlry where liorse- 

 breeding is carried on upon so extensive a scale, and where, 

 besides, the animals are allowed to wander frctly upon ihr wide 



