246 



TRAVELLING CANTEEN. 



the tin pot under weighs and made myself some 

 tea^ while the mules were loading. This tin 

 pot must not be forgotten, for it answered all 

 purposes ; sometimes a soup basin, then a tea 

 pot, tea cup, tumbler or wine glass, punch bowl, 

 &c.; besides serving its turn at the rivers 

 helping all hands with water, occasionally it 

 would be filled with farina and water, and 

 handed round to the company, a most agreeable 

 beverage which quenches the thirst effectually, 

 and very much resembles oatmeal and water. Be 

 it also known that this same tin pot, with a knife, 

 fork, and spoon which shut up in one, and car- 

 ried in my breeches pocket, was the sum total of 

 my travelling canteen, so it may naturally be 

 supposed that I had a particular regard for it. 



Every thing being ready, we were on the 

 move by six, and were fortunate enough to cross 

 the river very easily. Our next and last difficulty, 

 we were informed, would be the Rio de las Vacas, 

 which in truth was a difficulty, being the worst in 

 the Cordillera. We very soon came to it, and in 



