462 



CLIMATE RIVER RANCHO. 



June 



soil being usually of a tenacious, clayey nature, and streams 

 of water numerous, moisture sufficient for vegetation is ensured, 

 even at the dryest periods. Indeed, these countries never have 

 suffered from drought ; their climate being a happy mean 

 between the dry, parching heat of Northern Chile, or Peru, 

 and the continual wet, wind, and chilliness of Childe. 



The first river we had to cross was not more than fifty feet 

 wide, but the banks were hollow and rotten. Our guide looked 

 along the stream till he found a tree which had fallen across, 

 so as to form a bridge over two-thirds of the width: and with 

 a pole in his hand, he climbed as far as the boughs would bear 

 him : then finding that the water beneath was not above his 

 middle, he waded through the remainder. Unsaddling, we 

 sent all the gear across by help of the tree and lassoes, and 

 turned the horses over, much against their will, for they had 

 to plunge in and scramble out. 



Again using our spurs, we hoped to pass the second river 

 also before dark, but in vain; there was only just daylight 

 enough left to see that it had overflowed its banks, and seemed 

 to be wide and rapid. Even Vogelborg thought it impossible 

 to cross before the next morning, so we turned back to look 

 for some hut in which we might obtain shelter from heavy 

 rain, which was beginning to pour down. The night was very 

 dark and our prospect rather comfortless, when we were fortu- 

 nate enough to find a ' rancho,"* and there we gladly took 

 refuge. Its owners were absent at a merry-making in the 

 ' neighbourhood "* (about twenty miles off !) ; their daughters, 

 however, and an Indian captive (from Boroa) were not deficient 

 in hospitality. Poor girls ! they were rather frightened at first, 

 at their house being so suddenly occupied, but our guide 

 quieted their alarm. As soon as the horses were provided for, 

 we looked about for food for ourselves, and could find nothing 

 but potatoes, till, hearing Vogelborg call for help in his bro- 

 ken English, I ran to him thinking he was hurt or attacked. 

 He was struggling with a sheep which he had caught, and was 

 dragging to the hut. Greatly were the poor girls alarmed 

 when they saw that the sheep was to be sacrificed ; they ex- 



