70 



LA VILLA NUEVA. 



Wednesday y %th. Being a fine moonlight 

 mornings we started at half-past four^ and took 

 an asado^ for breakfast at Dormida del Negro^ 

 ten leagues^ a bad post, but a new one was 

 building. Changing horses again at Catetos and 

 Chacona, each six leagues, we arrived at 

 Retano, nine leagues ; we now came into a cul- 

 tivated and civilized country. This post is a 

 good brick building, with plantations of poplars 

 near it, the whitewashed walls and green doors 

 gave it quite an air of cheerfulness. From the 

 top we had a fine view of the mighty Cordillera, 

 which now arose considerably to our view like a 

 tremendous barrier of snow. We here turned 

 off the main road in order to visit a relation of our 

 travelling companions, at Villa Nueva, a village 

 about two leagues distance. It was founded 

 by General San Martin, and formerly bore his 

 name ; but not being so fortunate as to retain 

 the good esteem of the natives of Mendoza, 

 they have changed it as above. Its situation is 



* Asado signifies a piece of any meat roasted. 



