17G 



CHILT. 



who seated himself unceremoniously at a vacant 

 corner of the table, displayed his wallet, and drew 

 forth a handful of charque, or jerked beef, and a 

 great lump of cheese. The beef he sent out by 

 one of the guassos to be pounded between any two 

 stones on the road ; and while the charque was un- 

 dergoing this primitive cookery, he cut up his 

 cheese, and handed it round with the air of a man 

 at the head of his own table. For my part I was 

 greatly diverted with the fellow^s ease and impu- 

 dence ; but my friends, especially the young lady, 

 were shocked that I should witness such an intru- 

 sion, which they could not prevent ; for although 

 the table was theirs, it is the privilege in this coun^ 

 try of travellers to associate with and claim assist- 

 ance from one another on the road, without regard 

 to distinctions of rank. 



When dinner was over, and the table removed, 

 the floor was spread with mattresses and beds pre- 

 paratory to the siesta. There were not beds enough 

 for every one, and this being the only room in the 

 house, a momentary dilemma arose, but was soon 

 settled by the lady taking the upper station next 

 the wall, and placing her father by her, and so on 



