BUENOS AYRES. 



89 



clined than their brethren near the city, though 

 capable of any atrocity, if once their tempers 

 are fired, and their blood is kindled by any 

 cause, domestic or political. But speaking of 

 the rural population generally, they are a 

 silent, ignorant, superstitious, and harmless 

 people, not ill-disposed towards strangers. 

 But about the environs of the cities, especially 

 those of Buenos Ayres,- — where their naturally 

 fierce tempers are perhaps inflamed by the sup- 

 posed injury we have inflicted upon the nation, 

 in appropriating to ourselves the Falkland 

 Islands, which they claim as their property,— 

 the gaucho is become more irritable, vindictive, 

 sulky, and insolent. The whole nation love 

 gambling, horseracing, bull-fighting, and even 

 cock-fighting; and their only elegant amusement 

 is playing on the guitar,— of which they seem 

 to be fond, though they are not proficients in 

 the art. 



