21 



CHAPTER II. 



Leave Monte Video-— Reports of the state of the Banda 

 Oriental — Brazilian Out-posts — Patriot Out-posts — Wild 

 appearance of the Troops — Arrive at Canelones — Depar- 

 ture — Guide's fear of Robbers — Get benighted, and lose 

 our way — Method of marking Horses — Deserters about — 

 Arrive at Las Vacas — Embark in an open whale-boat to 

 cross Rio de la Plata — Driven on the Sand-banks — Arrive 

 at Buenos Ayres — Prepare for crossing the Pampas, 



June 2ith, Left Monte Video in our mule- 

 cart. On passing the barriers of the town^ came 

 to the deserted village of Tres Cruces, which is 

 fast falling to decay^ having still many good 

 houses unoccupied^ the war preventing any 

 person inhabiting them ; passing this village, we 

 opened a fine meadow country, but very wild in 

 appearance for want of cultivation. As we 

 cleared it, we met some wild Gauchos driving 

 in about three hundred head of cattle, which 



