20 



PREPARING TO START. 



starts and purchasing ponchos^* xergas,-j- saddles, 

 &c. O ur luggage was left on board to go up by the 

 packet. Finding horses were not to be procured, 

 we hired a mule-cart to carry ourselves and sad- 

 dles to the town of Canelones, a distance of ten 

 leagues. The reports we heard of the state of 

 the country, induced some of our passengers to 

 remain behind and wait the result of Garcia's 

 treaty ; but five of us being anxious to get to 

 Buenos Ayres, decided upon starting the fol- 

 lowing morning, so accordingly procured our 

 passports from the commandant of the town, in 

 order to clear us of the Brazilian line of troops. 

 Our plea for going beyond it was, to visit an 

 English gentleman that lived a short distance in 

 the country ; but the commandant well knew our 

 object, and most politely wished us a pleasant 

 journey. 



* A kind of cloak used for riding by day, and answers the 

 purpose of a covering at night: it may be compared to a 

 blanket with a split in the centre to put the head through. 



t A kind of rug for putting under the saddle, and laying 

 upon at night. 



