ARRIVAL AT CANELONES. 



25 



have sore backs. At sunset^ arrived at Canelo- 

 nes^ without meeting any obstruction, where we 

 stopped for the night, and had most miserable 

 dirty beds, (swarming with fleas,) laid on a 

 catre. ^ 



Canelones is principally inhabited by emi- 

 grants from Monte Video : all the men ca- 

 pable of bearing arms form a militia, con- 

 tinually on the alert for the protection of the 

 place. We were detained for passports till 

 past noon of the next day, the 25^A, when we 

 procured horses, and a little guide, only five 

 years old, to take us to St. Lucia, a miserable 

 village, situated on the banks of the river from 

 which it takes its name. This child rode on a 

 very fine horse, and sang the native song of the 

 Banda Oriental, the whole way (three leagues.) 

 All I could make out was, Stand to your arms, 

 brave Orientals ; the enemy are coming — fight, 

 and be bold.^^ We crossed the river in a 

 boat, and had to wait on the opposite shore up- 

 * A wooden frame, with a hide stretched across it. 



