LEAVE THE COURIER. 



269 



in the corral^ and galloped to the next post, Sa- 

 ladillo 6 Manantiales, a distance of fifteen miles in 

 fifty-nine minutes. This day was intolerably hot 

 and oppressive. The cargo horses delayed us 

 greatly, and I had much trouble to do to push the 

 courier on. Being anxious to catch the packet 

 that was on the point of sailing for England, 

 time was of great importance to me. How- 

 ever, I could not get on further than ninety- 

 three miles, and slept at the Arroyo del Me- 

 dio, where we were again much troubled with 

 mosquitos. 



Jan. ^th. Started at daylight. Fearing I 

 should not be in time for the packet, and finding- 

 great difficulty in getting the courier to move in 

 the heat of the day, I left him behind, and pro- 

 ceeded on with my peon. 



At Ponte Zuelas met Mr. Newton, an English 

 merchant, who was proceeding to Mendoza. 

 From him I learnt that the packet had sailed, 

 or was about to sail, on the 2nd of January, 

 which was unusually early ; but she had made 

 an extraordinary quick passage out. I pro- 



