COUIIIEIIS. 



39 



The distance is 1365 miles, so that the courier 

 must travel, upon an average, about 114 miles 

 a-day. This communication between Buenos 

 Ayres and Chili has for some years been open ; 

 and post-houses having been established along 

 the whole line of road, the only difficulties in the 

 journey arise from fatigue, bad lodging, and bad 

 fare. At these stations horses are kept in con- 

 stant readiness ; the supply being maintained from 

 the multitudes of wild droves covering the Pam- 

 pas, or plains of Buenos Ayres, which extend 

 from the sea to the base of the Andes. When 

 gentlemen travel on this road, it is usual to make 

 that part of the journey between the mountains 

 and Buenos Ayres, along the level Pampas in a 

 carriage : but the part lying amongst the Andes 

 can be performed only on horses, or on mules. 

 These couriers, who are bred to their business, 

 as an exclusive occupation, are generally small 

 and active men ; temperate in all their habits, 

 and possessed of a spirit of enterprise and energy, 

 which distinguishes them from the rest of their 

 countrymen. 



As soon as the despatches were sent off, I paid 



