136 



PASSAGE ACROSS 



there, I reconnoitred the spot, and found another 

 hole about ten yards above the lady, and another 

 about the same distance below her. As the water 

 ran from the one to the other, I thought I might as 

 well act the part of the wolf as be the lamb, and I 

 therefore went up the stream, and got into the 

 upper bath. I found the water very hot and agree- 

 able ; and without troubling myself about its ana- 

 lysis, drank some from the spot where it issued 

 from the ground, and feeling that I had then given 

 it a fair trial, I set off to return. In passing the 

 huts and the tents I looked into them ; — they were 

 crowded with men, women, and children, of all ages, 

 and mingled together in a way which would not 

 altogether be admitted at our English bathing- 

 places; but among the Andes customs and ideas 

 are different, and if a lady has there the rheu- 

 matism, she sees no harm in trying to wash it away 

 by the waters of Villa Vicencia. 



As soon as I got back to the post-hut I found 

 the mules all saddled ; so, after drinking some 

 soup and eating a piece of the hind-leg of a gua- 

 naco, I set off for Uspallata, where it was pro- 

 posed we should sleep. 



