CHAPTER XVI. 



LIFE ON THE PAMPAS. RETURN TO BUENOS AYRES. 

 SET SAIL FOR THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 



AFTER passing through the plain, covered with clover 

 and thistles, we arrived at the second portion of the Pam- 

 pas, a level covered with long grass, and extending about 

 four hundred and fifty miles. In the middle of summer, 

 the heat is intense upon the plain ; but it was now No- 

 vember, and the weather was tolerably pleasant. We 

 continued to- see vast herds of cattle and horses ; but few 

 other animals of any size. 



We had journeyed but about two days and a half among 

 this high grass, when Joaquin detected the fresh trail of 

 Indians. How he became aware of the precise nature of 

 the trail I was unable to perceive ? although I had consi- 

 derable skill in the same way. The traces to which he 

 directed our attention, were simply marks of horses's 

 hoofs, which, to my mind, might have been made by a 



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