BUENOS AYRES. 



71 



to the great discomfiture of shirt-buttons. 

 Beyond this spot begin the sands^ which are 

 as good and as smooth as those at any of our 

 English watering-places. 



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Here may be observed^ all day long, a num- 

 ber of carts with very high wheels^ drawn by 

 six or eight oxen^ two abreast^ constantly 

 passing and repassing from the city^ to a 

 river which enters the Plata two miles below 

 Buenos Ayres^ where small coasting-vessels^ 

 land timber and other merchandise^ from 

 the neighbouring states. Cattle also^ and 

 horses^ are frequently seen on their way to 

 pasture^ driven along the sands by a single 

 gaucho. This is a lively scene; — the boy*s 

 black hair falling over his shoulders — on his 

 head a red cap^ the top of which hangs down 

 over his face — and his poncho flying about his 

 earSj — he contrives,, by the aid of a whip^ to 



