TRAVELLrNCi COMPANIONS. 



77 



ment of the simple Gauchos, who stared with as- 

 tonishment, while the gallant colonel and his bro- 

 ther would stand with folded arms, eulogizing its 

 various qualities, with an air of self-importance, 

 not to equalled by the Dey of Algiers himself; 

 taking care, as we advanced in distance, that they 

 advanced in the price they gave for it ; for not 

 being very particular with regard to their veracity, 

 it increased to the amount of three thousand five 

 hundred dollars by the time we arrived at Men- 

 doza : independent of this, they carried with them 

 various articles of merchandize, in a small way, 

 such as snuff-boxes, watches, rings, fans, &c. &C. 

 much resembling our hawking pedlars in England. 

 A gold, musical snuff-box was a grand display, 

 every place we stopped at ; it confirmed their gran- 

 deur, by the surprise and astonishment of the na- 

 tives, who had never seen such a thing in their 

 lives : even the Indians had a laugh and roar at 

 it, and I verily believe would have smashed it on 

 the ground, from pure delight, could they have 

 got it into their hands. A trumpery watch was 



