CHAPTER YI, 



PEOM EOSAKIO TO MENDOZA. 



tEAVE EOSARIO BY POST. POST-HOUSES. ARMADILLOS. SALADtLLO DE RUI DIAZ. PRAILE MtJERTO. FAMILY OF 



THE COMANDANTE. VILLAGE SCHOOL. MASTER OP THE POST AT THE ARROYO DE SAN JOSE. VIOLENT 



THUNDER STORM AND EXTRAORDINARY DISCHARGES OP ELECTRICITY. VILLA DE LA CONOEPCION. THE 



LANDLORD AND HIS COMPANION. LABORS OP THE VESSEL LOAD OP PRIARS. SAN JOSE. SAN LUIS. 



BOILING-POINT APPARATUS. COLONEL EAIGORRI.-^EL BALDE. CATCH A TARTAR.— ACOROCORTO.-^MY MAN 



DON MARCOS. THE FRENCHMAN'S FALLS ACCOUNTED FOR. ARRIVE IN MENDOZA. RESUME. NATURE OF THE 



COtlNTEY. AGRICULTURE. RIVERS. CANALS. RAILROAD. ANIMALS. BIRDS. 



After having made arrangements to send all my heavy baggage by a train of ox-carts, and to 

 take with me only what was absolutely necessary, packed in two small trunks, I advised the 

 Frenchman to go by the carts, because it would cost him very little ; but, as he expressed great 

 disinclination to travel alone, it was decided that as the two would require but one postillion, 

 he would be relieved of that part of the expense, and therefore should accompany me. 



We left Eosario at half-past three p. m. of the 7th of November, and rode at a gallop through 

 a hard rain a distance of about twenty-four miles, to the post-house called El Saladillo de la 

 Orqueta, only stopping to change horses at the post-house " De Liina," as there were then no 

 accommodations for travellers. 



Pjocured a chicken for supper at the Saladillo de la Orqueta, and a hide bedstead to sleep on. 

 Foolishly pulled off my boots on going to bed, and in the morning found my feet so much 

 swollen that I could not get them on : therefore travelled in slippers, which, as one of my 

 ankles is weak, was exceedingly inconvenient. 



November 8. — Changed horses at the post of La Candelaria, and stopped at Los Desmochados 

 for dinner, but could obtain none. This post consists of three or four adobe huts ; that for 

 travellers having a hide bedstead in it, which was occupied while we were there by a sick 

 gaucho, who stuck to it like a leech, taking care when he had necessity to go out, to have a 

 friend occupy it until he should return, for fear we would take possession. Besides this bed, 

 there was the usual adobe bed-place against the wall ; but as we had ridden all the morning in 

 a hard rain, our things were too wet to sleep in, and we therefore determined to push on to the 

 next post-house. The beautiful girl I had seen the trip before at the Guardia de la Esquina 

 was now at the Desmochados, having married a ferocious-looking gaucho. 



Pushed on to the post of " Arequitas," where I arrived so completely used up that I could 

 with difficulty sit my horse. The barometer and three chronometers, together with my money 

 and cartridges, after three or four hours' travel, appeared to weigh twice as much as before. 

 "Weather still rainy. Found the master of the post very civil and attentive. 



November 9. — The first post to La Gruardia de la Esquina lies over pampa. Passed a polecat 

 in the road, which was disposed to show fight ; but as he had the advantage of weapons, I backed 

 out. Found everything about the post-house exactly as I had left it, except that the man who 

 sold me his poncho had left for the Indian country, and the pretty girl was away. 



Second post to " La Cruz Alta." Crossed and recrossed the Kio Tercero at fords which were 



about twenty-five yards wide and a foot deep. Stream not near so full as on my former journey. 



Cruz Alta is a little settlement of some twenty huts, with gardens about them. There, as 



elsewhere on the road, we were pestered by people desirous to change Cordova money, which 



