Aug. 1834. 



GUASOS AND GAUCHOS. 



315 



induced somebody to throw away his labour. The rage for 

 mining has left scarcely a spot in Chile unexamined. I spent 

 the evening as before^ talking round the fire with my two 

 companions. The Guasos of Chile^ which correspond to the 

 Gauchos of the Pampas^ are^ however, a very different set of 

 beings. Chile is the more civilized of the two countries, and 

 the inhabitants, in consequence, have lost much individual 

 character. Gradations in rank are much more strongly 

 marked : the Guaso does not by any means consider every 

 man his equal; and I was quite surprised to find that my 

 companions did not like to eat at the same time with myself. 

 This feeling of inequality is a necessary consequence of the 

 existence of an aristocracy of wealth. It is said that some 

 few of the greater landowners possess from five to ten 

 thousand pounds sterling per annum : an inequality of 

 riches which I believe is not met with in any of the cattle- 

 breeding countries to the eastward of the Andes. A tra- 

 veller does not here meet that unbounded hospitality which 

 refuses aU payment, but yet is so kindly offered that no 

 scruples can be raised in accepting it. Almost every house 

 in Chile will receive you for the night, but a trifle is 

 expected to be given in the morning ; even a rich man will 

 accept two or three shillings. The Gaucho, although he 

 may be a cut-throat, is a gentleman ; the Guaso is in few 

 respects better, but at the same time a vulgar, ordinary 

 fellow. The two men, although employed much in the same 

 manner, are different in their habits and attire ; and the 

 peculiarities of each are universal in their respective countries. 

 The Gaucho seems part of his horse, and scorns to exert 

 himself excepting when on its back ; the Guaso may be 

 hired to work as a labourer in the fields. The former lives 

 entirely on animal food ; the latter almost wholly on vege- 

 table. We do not here see the white boots, the broad 

 drawers, and scarlet chilipa ; the picturesque costume of the 

 Pampas. Here, common trousers are protected by black and 

 green worsted leggings. The poncho, however, is common 

 to both. The chief pride in the Guaso Hes in his spurs; 



