THE PAMPAS. 



271 



was looking at the mug, which was an English one^ 

 and on which was inscribed — 



No power on Earth 



Can make us rue. 

 If England to her- 



Self proves true — 



when I saw my hat literally covered with the 

 locusts biting the straw. As soon as I took it up, 

 these parti-coloured creatures hopped off like har- 

 lequins. The number of them is quite incredible, 

 and they would be a most serious enemy to any in- 

 dividual who should attempt to cultivate a solitary 

 farm in the Pampas — although a large population 

 and general cultivation might perhaps keep them 

 away. 



We arrived late and very tired at the post, hav- 

 ing ridden one hundred and twenty-three miles, and 

 found the master Don J uan very busy, pro- 

 viding supper for a priest, who had just arrived in 

 a carriage ; the water was extremely bad, and I 

 began to think I should fare badly, when the priest 

 asked me to partake of his supper, which was now 

 smoking on the table. He had some good water 

 in bottles, and we had a roasted lamb before us» 



