1832. 



GROTESQUE GROUP SUSPICIONS. 



103 



charmed with them. A dark visaged Quixotic character, partly 

 in uniform, mounted on a large lean horse, and attended by 

 several wild looking, but gaily dressed gauchos,* was nearest 

 to us. Behind him, a little on one side, were a few irregular 

 soldiers, variously armed, and no two dressed alike, but well 

 mounted, and desperate-looking fellows ; while on the other 

 side, a group of almost naked Indian prisoners sat devouring 

 the remains of a half roasted horse ; and as they scowled at us 

 savagely, still holding the large bones they had been gnawing, 

 with their rough hair and scanty substitutes for clothing blown 

 about by the wind, I thought I had never beheld a more sin* 

 gular group. 



The tall man in uniform was the Commandant of the settle- 

 ment, or fortress, called Argentina : he and his soldiers had 

 arrived to welcome us, supposing that we were bringing sup- 

 plies from Buenos Ayres for the needy colony. The Indian 

 prisoners had been brought to work, and assist in carrying 

 the supplies which were expected. Finding that we were 

 neither Buenos Ajreans, nor traders from any other place, it 

 was supposed that we must be spies sent to reconnoitre the 

 place previous to a hostile attack. Neither the explanations 

 nor assertions of Mr. Harris had any weight, for as he was 

 our countryman, they naturally concluded he was in league 

 with us ; yet, as the commandant had some idea that we might, 

 by possibility, be what we maintained we were, he disregarded 

 the whispers and suggestions of his people, and offered to carry 

 us to the settlement for a night's lodging. 



Leaving the boat's crew to bivouac, as usual, I accepted 

 a horse offered to me, and took the purser up behind ; Mr. 

 Darwin and Harris being also mounted behind two gaucho 

 soldiers, away we went across a flat plain to the settlement. 

 Mr. Darwin was carried off before the rest of the party, to be 

 cross-questioned by an old major, who seemed to be considered 

 the wisest man of the detachment, and he, poor old soul, 



* Countrymen, employed in keeping and killing cattle, breeding 

 and training horses, hunting, war, &c. 



