LEAVE BUENOS AY RES, 37 



the method of harnessing the horses in this 

 country is, by a long piece of hide rope^ with a 

 toggle at the end of it, which is put through a 

 ring attached to the saddle, so that the horse 

 draws entirely on one side and by the girth, 

 but has the convenience of being let go at a 

 moment's notice should he become restive and 

 unmanageable, which is frequently the case. As 

 it was not our intention to go more than seven 

 leagues this day, we did not hurry, nor indeed 

 could we, for the roads were so dreadfully bad 

 on leaving Buenos Ayres, that it was impossible 

 to go faster than a walk, and the Pantanos being 

 so swollen by the late heavy rains, were, in many 

 places, far above the horses knees ; this infamous 

 road continued for about a league, lined on each 

 side with aloes and huge prickly pear-trees. On 

 clearing this bad road, the wild Pampas soon 

 opens, covered with thistles as far as the eye can 

 range, amongst which herds of cattle are grazing, 

 near to the Estancias; some of which have the 

 appearance of English farm=houses, having a few 



