86 



ARRIVE AT VILLAVICENCIA. 



path ; night overtook us, and it was late before 

 we arrived at the miserable hovel of Villavicen- 

 cia, a distance of fifteen leagues from Mendoza. 

 I was much fatigued with this journey, having 

 been twelve hours on the back of the same mule, 

 which compared with the fine spirited horses of 

 the Pampas was a miserable contrast, and ren- 

 dered the travelling much more tedious. 



It was a novel and picturesque sight winding 

 up this valley ; the noise of the peons in order 

 to keep the mules together, made it ring with 

 their echoes, which vibrated very distinctly 

 amongst the rocks and mountains above us. 



Villavicencia is nothing; more than a misera- 

 ble hovel, built of mud, sticks, and stones; 

 the roof at this time was nearly off, and the 

 gusts of cold wind came rushing down the 

 mountain into the frail habitation, scattering the 

 dust and dirt upon us as we lay shivering in 

 bed, which prevented all possibility of our get- 

 ting any sleep. We now began to feel the rapid 

 change of temperature; morning and evening 



