116 



THE PAMPAS INDIANS. 



sore men, crawling in the rain through muddy 

 lanes, bending under their packs, while in their rear 

 the mules, and forage, and packsaddles,and baggage, 

 and waggons, and women— bullocks lying on the 

 ground unable to proceed, &c. &c,, form a scene of 

 despair and confusion which must always attend 

 the army that walks instead of rides, and that eats 

 cows* instead of horses. How impossible would it 

 be for an European army to contend with such 

 an aerial force. As well might it attempt to drive 

 the swallows from the country, as to harm these 

 naked warriors. 



A large body of these Indians twice crossed my 

 path, as I was riding from Buenos Aires to 

 Mendoza and back again. They had just had an 

 engagement with the Rio Plata troops, who killed 

 several of them, and these were lying naked and 

 dead on the plain not far from the road. Several 

 of the Gauchos, who were engaged, told me that 

 the Indians had fought most gallantly, but that 

 all their horses were tired, or they could never 

 have been attacked : the Gauchos, who themselves 



* On a long march it seldom happens that the bullocks are 

 able to keep up with the men. 



