24 STATE OF THE BANDA ORIENTAL. 



were the reports we heard of the state of the 

 country we should have to pass through, and 

 which were soon more fully confirmed by our 

 meeting the English gentleman before mentioned^ 

 who advised us not to proceed further, but send 

 our muleteer forward, to endeavour to procure 

 horses, as it would be better to trust to them in 

 the event of falling in with any deserters, than to 

 be in the mule-cart. 



On finding things in this state, one of our 

 party, not having the same necessity for pro- 

 ceeding as the rest of us, declined going further, 

 so returned to Monte Video, in company with 

 this gentleman, leaving us now reduced to four, 

 three Englishmen and one Spaniard. 



We travelled on, passing through a fine mea- 

 dow country, abounding in wild ostriches and 

 deer, with some few flocks of cattle grazing far 

 away from their Estancias. Vultures were very 

 numerous : one sat perched on the back of an 

 unfortunate horse, absolutely eating the live 

 flesh : this is a frequent occurrence, when they 



