THE GREAT CORDILLERA. 



147 



that it should not hurt the mule, and he was just; 

 going to put on a small straw- pad, when I at once 

 put an end to the argument. As soon as the bag- 

 gage was ready, we threw upon it two or three 

 dead sheep, and, in quitting Uspallata, took leave 

 of the last inhabited hut on the east side of the 

 Cordillera. 



I was steadily riding my mule at the rate of five 

 miles an hour, in order to measure by my watch 

 the breadth of the plains of Uspallata, when we 

 met an old Gaucho huntsman, with two lads, and 

 a number of dogs, which at once put a stop to my 

 calculation. He had several loose horses, over one; 

 of which was hanging the carcass of a guanaco. 



He had been hunting for lions, and had been 

 among the mountains for two days, but had had 

 little sport. The Gaucho was a fine picture of an 

 old sportsman. Round his body were the "bolas'^ 

 (balls), which were covered with clotted blood.. 

 His knees were admirably protected from the bushes, 

 by a hide which was under his saddle, and which 

 in front had the appearance of gambadoes. 



He was mounted on a good horse, his lasso in 

 coils hung at his saddle. As soon as we stopped^ he 



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