256 



ARRIVE AT MENDOZA. 



we met several large troops of mules entering 

 the Cordillera. We soon after cleared the hills, 

 and entered the wild plains of sand and brush- 

 wood, skirting by the side of the mountains for 

 the high road to Mendoza. Here we passed many 

 carriages of the country, with families going to the 

 baths near Villavicencia ; about 1. 30. P. M. came 

 to the first mud hut at the entrance of Mendoza, 

 which is a league from the town. The road was 

 overflowed with water the whole way : it has a 

 mud wall on one side, with a few poplars on the 

 other. At two arrived at Mendoza, thus crossing 

 the Andes in five days from Santa Rosa. My 

 first object was to enquire for Dr. Gillies, whom 

 I was very sorry to find still in a very bad state of 

 health : likewise Mr. G. From these gentlemen 

 I learnt that the province of San Luis had been 

 infested by robbers, but that the governor had sent 

 out a party of troops and dispersed them : two 

 had been caught and immediately shot. They had 

 robbed a French lady and gentleman that passed 



