68 CROSSING RIO DESAGUADERO. 



they were hanging over the pots on the blazing 

 fires. Others were smoking, others singing, 

 and some bringing fire-wood. The moon spark- 

 ling on the rippling Desaguadero^ with the flocks 

 of goats and kids bleating about our abode, 

 made it altogether a scene peculiarly novel, wild, 

 and interesting. 



Tuesday, 1th, This was a busy morning. Our 

 peons were up betimes preparing the carriage 

 to cross the river. Those on the opposite shore 

 were employed getting their cargoes over on a 

 raft, constructed of six barrels ; a second one 

 was composed of two canoes lashed together, 

 and covered with rushes. The horses were driven 

 into the stream, which was running rapidly down 

 at the rate of four miles an hour : it was an in- 

 teresting sight to see so many beautiful animals 

 showing their various dispositions to cross. All 

 but one, after some difficulty, followed the 

 mare's bell, and arrived snorting on the opposite 

 shore, some distance from where they started, 

 having been swept down by the stream. They 



