264 HEAD OF A ROBBER STUCK ON A POLE. 



preparation^ we started at five^ P.M. being de- 

 tained till that time by the courier. The road was 

 very bad at first starting, as we were obliged to 

 pass along in the Rio de San Luis for some dis- 

 tance before opening the wild Pampas : dark 

 came on before we entered the plains. Passed 

 the spot where the French lady and gentleman 

 had been robbed, and for which the two men be- 

 fore-mentioned were shot ; one of their heads 

 was hanging on the top of a pole ; it looked rather 

 appalling, swinging to the breeze, as the moon 

 shed its pale light over the ghastly countenance, 

 and was an awful sight on a wild plain, with no- 

 thing else to attract the attention : the other head 

 was hanging at the post of Rio Quinto. I en- 

 deavoured to procure it, in order to present to 

 Dr. Spurzheim, the celebrated phrenologist, but 

 could not succeed^ it being stuck there as an ex- 

 ample by order of the governor of San Luis, 

 and put under the charge of the postmaster. The 

 countenance, which was still perfect, appeared 

 to have been that of a very young man. Pro- 

 ceeded on, and arrived very late at the Morro 



