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CHAPTER VIII. 



Monte Video — Excursion to Colonia del Sacramiento — Horse swimming- 

 Value of an Estancia — Cattle, how counted — Geology — Great thistle- 

 beds — Rio Negro — Perforated pebbles' — Shepherd dogs — Horses broken 

 in, Gauchos riding, feats with lazo — Toxodon — Armadillo-like gigantic 

 covering — Great tail — Return to Monte Video — Character of inha- 

 bitants. 



BANDA ORIENTAL. 



Having been delayed for nearly a fortnight in the city, 

 I was glad to escape on board a packet bound for Monte 

 Video. A town in a state of blockade must always be a 

 disagreeable place of residence ; in this case moreover there 

 were constant apprehensions from robbers within. The 

 sentinels were the worst of all; for, from their office and 

 from having arms in their hands, they robbed with a degree 

 of authority, which other men could not imitate. 



Our passage was a very long and tedious one. The Plata 

 looks like a noble estuary on the map ; but it is in truth a 

 poor affair. A wide expanse of muddy water, has neither 

 grandeur nor beauty. At one time of the day the two 

 shores, both of which are extremely low, could just be dis- 

 tinguished from the deck. On arriving at Monte Video 

 I found the Beagle would not sail for some time, so I pre- 

 pared for a short excursion in this part of Banda Oriental. 

 Every thing which I said about the country near Maldonado is 

 applicable to this ; the land, however, with the one exception 

 of the Green Mount, 450 feet high, from which it takes its 

 name, is far more level. Very little of the undulating grassy 

 plain is enclosed ; but near the town there are a few hedge 

 banks, covered with agaves, cacti, and fennel. 



November 14th. — We left Monte Video in the after- 

 noon. I intended to proceed to Colonia del Sacramiento, 

 situated on the northern bank of the Plata and opposite to 



