GENERAL ROSAS 77 



of the Gauchos, he has obtained an unbounded popularity in 

 the country, and in consequence a despotic power. I was 

 assured by an EngHsh merchant, that a man who had murdered 

 another, when arrested and questioned concerning his motive, 

 answered, " He spoke disrespectfully of General Rosas, so I 

 killed him." At the end of a week the murderer was at 

 liberty. This doubtless was the act of the general's party, 

 and not of the general himself 



In conversation he is enthusiastic, sensible, and very grave. 

 His gravity is carried to a high pitch : I heard one of his mad 

 buffoons (for he keeps two, like the barons of old) relate the 

 following anecdote : " I wanted very much to hear a certain 

 piece of music, so I went to the general two or three times to 

 ask him ; he said to me, ' Go about your business, for I am 

 engaged.' I went a second time ; he said, ' If you come again 

 I will punish }ou.' A third time I asked, and he laughed. 

 I rushed out of the tent, but it was too late ; he ordered two 

 soldiers to catch and stake me. I begged by all the Saints in 

 heaven he would let me off ; but it would not do ; — when the 

 general laughs he spares neither mad man nor sound." The 

 poor flighty gentleman looked quite dolorous at the very recol- 

 lection of the staking. This is a very severe punishment ; four 

 posts are driven into the ground, and the man is extended by 

 his arms and legs horizontally, and there left to stretch for 

 several hours. The idea is evidently taken from the usual 

 method of drying hides. My interview passed away without 

 a smile, and I obtained a passport and order for the govern- 

 ment post-horses, and this he gave me in the most obliging 

 and ready manner. 



In the morning we started for Bahia Blanca, which we 

 reached in two days. Leaving the regular encampment, we 

 passed by the toldos of the Indians. These are round like 

 ovens, and covered with hides ; by the mouth of each, a 

 tapering chuzo was stuck in the ground. The toldos were 

 divided into separate groups, which belonged to the different 

 caciques' tribes, and the groups were again divided into smaller 

 ones, according to the relationship of the owners. For several 

 miles we travelled along the valley of the Colorado. The 

 alluvial plains on the side appeared fertile, and it is supposed 

 that they are well adapted to the growth of corn. 



