36 



CHAPTER in. 



Leave Buenos Ayres — First night on the Pampas — Description 

 of a Post House — Posts protected against the Indians — 

 Description of a Gaucho and his family — Fire on the 

 Pampas — Beautiful driving of the Peons — Family of In- 

 dians — Hunting Deer and Ostriches — Cruelty of the 

 Gauchos to their Horses — Hear of Robbers — View^ of the 

 Hills of the Sierra de Cordova — Arrive at Punta de Agua. 



July 2^th, — Having arranged with two Spa- 

 nish gentlemen to take seats in a carriage which 

 they had purchased for the purpose of going to 

 Mendoza^ my companion and 1, as we had each 

 a load^ had no further trouble than to send our 

 luggage up for the cargo horses. About one 

 o'clock we took our seats and started with four 

 horses to the carriage, each mounted by a Peon, 

 whose tremendous long spurs made me feel for 

 the fate of the poor animals on which they rode ; 



