206 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



still, and rather frosty. Setting out on a stroll by myself 

 before breakfast, I had a cold but refreshing bathe, which 

 effectually removed the stiffness induced by the long walk 

 of the previous day, and then walked for some distance 

 along the edge of the strip of fresh water near our camp, 

 where I found a Patagonian engaged in washing — a pro- 

 ceeding apparently but rarely indulged in by these people. 

 After we had respectively saluted each other with the custom- 

 ary " buenos dias," he made some remark in Spanish which I 

 did not catch, and consequently had recourse to the usual " no 

 entiende," whereupon, to my no small amusement, I met with 

 the emphatic rejoinder in English, " Wash your face" — a piece 

 of advice one would have hardly looked for from an individual 

 of this nation. At the close of breakfast we were joined by 

 four officers from the ship, and we then proceeded to make 

 preparations for the start. Horses were to be had in plenty, 

 but horse-furniture was by no means so readily attainable, 

 so that a considerable amount of time was expended in 

 preparing make-shifts for saddles, bridles, and stirrups. The 

 Patagonian saddles consist of wooden frames, provided with 

 a high ridge before and behind, and on these the riders place 

 a pile of skins, on which they sit. But few skins being 

 available, however, for our behoof on the present occasion, 

 pillows, rugs, blankets, and cloaks, were brought into 

 requisition, and arranged according to the particular fancy of 

 the rider. Stirrups were also with difficulty procured, in 

 illustration of which, I may mention that I was furnished 

 by a Patagonian with one so small that I could hardly get 

 the point of the toe of my boot into it, while another was 

 improvised for me by- Captain Mayne's coxswain out of a 

 piece of rope-yarn. While we were getting ready, Caci- 

 miero, who had previously made his appearance at breakfast 



