THE PAMPAS. 



9T 



As they came close to us, for until then I could 

 scarcely see them for dust, I perceived that they 

 had no spears, and next that they wore clothes ; but 

 as they had no uniforms I conceived that they were 

 a crowd of Montaneros, who are quite as cruel as 

 the Indians: however, as soon as they came to us, 

 and when some of them had passed us, Pizarro 

 pulled up and talked to them. They were a body 

 of seven hundred wild Gauchos, collected and sent 

 by the governors of Cordova and some other pro- 

 vinces, to proceed to Buenos Aires to join the army 

 against the Brazilians ; and on their flank they had 

 scouts, to prevent a surprise by the Indians, who 

 had invaded the country only a few weeks before. 



It was really a reprieve ; every thing I saw for 

 the rest of the day pleased me — and for many days 

 afterwards, I felt that I was enjoying a new lease 

 of my life. 



H 



