40 FROM SAN LUIS TO ROSARIO. 



and, -without being aware of what they were about, intruded, but did not disturb them in the 

 least: the old lady offered me a chair, and the service went on as usual. When the thunder- 

 storm commenced, a little bell was brought out, and rung violently at every sharp flash of 

 lightning, with a view of warding off danger. They had implicit faith in its virtues, as it had 

 been specially consecrated for that purpose. This superstition probably comes from Spain. In 

 Moratin's comedy called "El si de las Ninas," 1) na Francisca, in examining the presents 

 made her by the nuns whom she had just visited, makes an exclamation of delight on discover- 

 ing among them a little bell blessed for thunder — "una campanilla de barro bendito para los 

 truenos." 



January 1, 1853. — Set out at 5 a. m., and at 3 p. M. arrived at the town of Kosario, situated 

 on the west bank of the Rio Parana; and here my journey on horseback ended. 



The day was rainy, and our road lay over pampa and, in some places, very marshy ground. 

 This is not the post-road, but a short cut through the country — that road turning more to the 

 southward, and passing round the marshy ground. Saw an iguana, about four feet long. Passed 

 several ranches and immense herds of mares grazing. As we approached the town, we of 

 course found the houses more frequent. 



About twelve miles out, the vegetation of the pampa, instead of being wire-grass, as we had 

 had it all along, was principally fennel, thistle, and other weeds. From the accounts of some 

 travellers, one is led to believe that there is at certain seasons a rank growth of thistles all the 

 way across the country. This, I think, is a mistake. Thistles are common near Buenos Ayres 

 and Montevideo, and generally near the river banks ; but on other parts of my road I saw no 

 signs of such a growth. 



Paid the arriero the sum agreed on for my transportation from San Luis, (sixty-five dollars,) 

 gave him all my blankets and some other riding gear, and dismissed him, rather glad of the 

 riddance. The rascal had so little grace as to offer the blankets for sale before my eyes within 

 two minutes after he had received them. It was very plain that he had no romantic ideas of 

 sympathetic affection. I was obliged to sell my saddle, bridle, and holsters, in order to raise 

 means to pay expenses down the river; for I was reduced to the last extremity in money 

 matters. 



