1882.] POINTS OF ETIQUETTE, 43 
to taste it; but whilst making their exceedingly graceful bow, 
they seem quite as ready, if occasion offered, to cut your throat. 
On the third day we pursued rather an irregular course, as } 
was employed in examining some beds of marble. On the fine 
plains of turf we saw many ostriches (Struthio rhea). Some of the 
flocks contained as many as twenty or thirty birds. These, when 
standing on any little eminence, and seen against the clear sky, 
presented a very noble appearance. I never met with such tame 
ostriches in any other part of the country: it was easy to gallop 
up within a short distance of them; but then, expanding their 
wings, they made all sail right before the wind, and soon left the 
horse astern. 
At night we came to the house of Don Juan Fuentes, a rich 
landed proprietor, but not personally known to either of my 
companions. On approaching the house of a stranger, it is 
usual to follow several little points of etiquette: riding up slowly 
to the door, the salutation of Ave Maria is given, and until 
somebody comes out and asks you to alight, it is not customary 
even to,get off your horse: the formal answer of the owner is, 
_ “sin pecado concebida ”—that is, conceived without sin. Having 
entered the house, some general conversation is kept up for a 
few minutes, till permission is asked. to pass the night there. 
This is granted as a matter of course. The stranger then takes 
his meals with the family, and a ‘room is assigned him, where 
with the horsecloths belonging to his recado (or saddle of the 
Pampas) he makes his bed. It is curious how similar circum- 
stances produce such’similar results in manners. At the Cape 
of Good Hope the same hospitality, and-very nearly the same 
points of etiquette, are universally observed. ‘The difference, 
however, between the character of the Spaniard and that of the 
Dutch boor is shown, by the former never asking his guest a 
single question beyond the strictest rule of politeness, whilst the 
honest Dutchman demands where he has been, where he is going, 
what is his business, and even how many brothers, sisters, or 
children he may happen to have. 
Shortly after our arrival at Don Juan’s, one of the large herds 
of cattle was driven in towards the house, and three beasts were 
picked out to be slaughtered for the supply of the establishment, 
These half-wild cattle are very active; and knowing full well 
