CHAPTER III. 



FROM MENDOZA TO SAN LUIS DE LA PUNTA. 



LEAVK MENDOZA. OUR PAETT. CHACRA OF THE ALDAOS. HOSPITALITY OF THE SESORA. WATER OF THE 



T0NDYAN. LA RETAMA. SAN ISIDRO. LOMBARDT POPLARS. SANTA ROSA. A PALL. RIVER TUNUYAN. 



ACOROCORTO. MISHAPS. POETRY OF THE PEONS. DESAGUADERO. LAS TORTUGAS. LOCUSTS. REPRESA. • 



VIEW OF THE CORBILLERA. THE BEBEDERO. EL BALDE. THE REPRESA. ARRIVE AT SAN LUIS. AN 



ENORMOUS NOSE. SEPARATE FROM MY COMPANIONS. PORTRAIT OF DON MANUEL. SAN LUIS. POPULATION. 



GENERAL APPEARANCE. SOLDIERS* COSTUME. HEALTH. HOTEL. MISTAKE OF THE COOK. CULTIVATION. 



COCHINEAL. GOLD MINES. 



On the 7tli of December I left Mendoza in company with Mr. Blanchard, a Cordoves by the 

 name of Figueroa, and young Aldao, the owner of a small train of mules with which he was 

 going to the Eio Ouarto for a drove of cattle. He contracted to take us that far at the rate of 

 six dollars per mule, and in addition furnish us with beef. 



Our first stage out was made in a nondescript vehicle loaned to Mr. Blanchard by a friend, 

 in which we proceeded about ten leagues and stopped at the estate of the Aldaos, where we were 

 received with great hospitality by the mother. 



For nearly the whole distance the road leads between rows of poplar trees, bounding wheat- 

 fields and pasture-grounds, with houses and grog-shops occasionally. Passed two places 

 marked "Eodeos" on the map — the "Eodeo de la Cruz" and the "Kodeo del Medio" — which, 

 from their high-sounding names, I supposed meant towns or villages; but they are merely con- 

 venient places for carts and trains to stop at on account of the water and pasturage. The name 

 Eodeo comes probably from the habit of arranging the loads and pack-saddles in a circle, 

 when the train stops for the night or siesta ; every load being covered by its proper saddle and 

 other horse-gear. 



About nine leagues out we crossed the Eio de Mendoza, running to the north-northeastward. 

 It is divided here into three streams, about half a mile apart ; but a league oif on either hand 

 they unite. The first stream is about three yards wide; the second, ten; and the third, four. 

 Each of them is a foot or eighteen inches deep, and has a very sluggish current. In dry weather 

 nearly all the water of the Mendoza is consumed in irrigating the land ; but in rainy weather a 

 considerable stream finds its way into the lakes of Guanacache, to the southeastward of San 

 Juan. These lakes also receive the waters of the river San Juan, and, I believe, of one or two 

 other small streams. Fine fish are said to abound in them ; one kind, called the trucJia de 

 Guanacache, being much vaunted for its excellence. The flats between the three streams, into 

 which the Mendoza is divided at the ford, are covered with a thin white deposit, called salitre. 

 So much of this exists in the earth as to render the river salt before it reaches the lake. 



The soil over which we passed is a fine, loose, and rich one, and of a dark-brown color; want- 

 ing only water to make it yield abundant crops. 



Discovered that one of my pistols had either been stolen or lost; which was rather distressing, 

 considering the number of stories told of danger from the Indians. 



The chacra of the Aldaos is one of a scattering settlement called " El Barrial," from its being 

 very muddy in wet weather. Nearly all the farms (chacras) thereabouts are irrigated by means 

 of canals or ditches from the river Tunuyan, which runs to the eastward along the base of a 

 low range of hills about eight leagues to the southward. The water of this stream is quite 



