270 



STORM ON THE PAMPAS. 



ceeded on^ and stopt at La Cruz de Areco at 

 nine P.M., performing ninety-three miles. This 

 was a most miserable post. I had scarcely arrived, 

 when a most awful pampero came on^ accompa- 

 nied with tremendous heavy rain^ thunder^ and 

 lightning. I fully expected the rancho would be 

 blown to atoms. Nearly half the roof came off, 

 and we were almost smothered with sand and dirt. 

 It is impossible to conceive with what fury these 

 pamperos come on^ tearing up thick clouds of 

 sand, which completely darken the earth. My 

 peon went outside to bring in the saddles, when 

 he was literally obliged to hold on by some 

 posts, or he would have been carried off his legs 

 by the violence of the wind. Although not an- 

 noyed by mosquitos at this post, the pampero 

 prevented our getting much rest. 



Jan. bth. Rainy morning, accompanied with 

 thunder and lightning ; prepared to start at day- 

 light, but was prevented by a storm coming on. 

 To my surprise, just as I was starting, who should 

 come up but Mr, W. P. Robertson, whom I had 

 left at Valparaiso with his wife, on the point of 



