first day's journey. 149 



unshaven beard ; — such were the principal 

 features of our costume. I have an English 

 saddle ; but the doctor and my servant have 

 chosen the recado, with its numerous cloths, 

 bandages, and the trouble to take it off and put 

 it on. We shall soon see who has made the 

 best selection. They think a soft seat best ; I 

 prefer a smooth, hard, and cool one, and expect 

 to arrive at Mendoza in a better plight than 

 they. 



When we parted with our escort at the out- 

 side of the city, we cantered on briskly, to make 

 the best use of the light whilst it remained. 

 We had determined to sleep at the post- 

 house from which I write, the first night, 

 instead of fatiguing ourselves too much at the 

 commencement of our gallop. We thought as 

 sailors do when they first go to sea, that it 

 must take some time to shake every thing into 



