128 



SIERRA VENTANA. 



Sept. 1833. 



a relish. That the danger was very little was certain, for my 

 two companions made a good fire — a thing which is never 

 done when it is suspected that Indians are near. I reached 

 the place of our bivouac by sunset, and drinking much mate, 

 and smoking several cigaritos, soon made up my bed for the 

 night. The wind was very strong and cold, but I never 

 slept more comfortably. 



September 10th. — In the morning, having fairly scudded 

 before the gale, we arrived by the middle of the day at the 

 Sauce posta. On the road we saw great numbers of deer, 

 and near the mountain a guanaco. The plain, that abuts 

 against the Sierra, is traversed by some curious gullies, of 

 which one was about twenty feet wide, and at least thirty 

 deep ; we were obliged in consequence to make a consider- 

 able circuit, before we could find a pass. We staid the night 

 at the posta, the conversation, as was generally the case, 

 being about the Indians. The Sierra Ventana was formerly a 

 great place of resort ; and three or four years ago there was 

 much fighting here. My guide had been present when 

 many men were killed : the women escaped to the top of the 

 ridge, and fought most desperately with big stones ; many 

 thus saving themselves. 



September 11th. — Proceeded to the third posta in com- 

 pany with the lieutenant who commanded it. The distance 

 is called fifteen leagues ; but it is only guess-work and is ge- 

 nerally overstated. The road was uninteresting, over a dry 

 grassy plain ; and on our left hand at a greater or less distance 

 there were some low hills ; a chain of which, we crossed close 

 to the posta. Before our arrival, we met a large herd of cattle 

 and horses, guarded by fifteen soldiers ; but we were told 

 many had been lost. It is very difficult to drive animals 

 across the plains ; for if in the night a lion, or even a fox, 

 approaches, nothing can prevent the horses dispersing in 

 every direction ; and a storm will have the same effect. A 

 short time since, an officer left Buenos Ayres with 500 horses, 

 and when he arrived at the army he had under twenty. 



Soon afterwards we perceived by the cloud of dust, that a 



