IV ZORILLOS 83 



them to be the wife and sister-in-law of the major's son, 

 hunting for ostrich's eggs. 



I have described this man's conduct, because he acted under 

 the full impression that they were Indians. As soon, however, 

 as the absurd mistake was found out, he gave me a hundred 

 reasons why they could not have been Indians ; but all 

 these were forgotten at the time. We then rode on in 

 peace and quietness to a low point called Punta Alta, whence 

 we could see nearly the whole of the great harbour of Bahia 

 Blanca. 



The wide expanse of water is choked up by numerous 

 great mudbanks, which the inhabitants call Cangrejales, or 

 crabberies, from the number of small crabs. The mud is so 

 soft that it is impossible to walk over them, even for the 

 shortest distance. Many of the banks have their surfaces 

 covered with long rushes, the tops of which alone are visible at 

 high water. On one occasion, when in a boat, we were so 

 entangled by these shallows that we could hardly find our way. 

 Nothing was visible but the flat beds of mud ; the day was not 

 very clear, and there was much refraction, or, as the sailors 

 expressed it, " things loomed high." The only object within 

 our view which was not ievd was the horizon ; rushes looked 

 like bushes unsupported in the air, and water like mudbanks, 

 and mudbanks like water. 



We passed the night in Punta Alta, and I employed myself 

 in searching for fossil bones ; this point being a perfect 

 catacomb for monsters of extinct races. The evening was 

 perfectly calm and clear ; the extreme monotony of the view 

 gave it an interest even in the midst of mudbanks and gulls, 

 sand -hillocks and soHtary vultures. In riding back in the 

 morning we came across a very fresh track of a Puma, but did 

 not succeed in finding it. We saw also a couple of Zorillos, 

 or skunks, — odious animals, which are far from uncommon. 

 In general appearance the Zorillo resembles a polecat, but it is 

 rather larger, and much thicker in proportion. Conscious of 

 its power, it roams by day about the open plain, and fears 

 neither dog nor man. If a dog is urged to the attack, its 

 courage is instantly checked by a few drops of the fetid oil, 

 which brings on violent sickness and running at the nose. 

 Whatever is once polluted by it, is for ever useless. Azara 



