THE PAMPAS. 



179 



as we rode to-day. They are called by the na- 

 tives the tira-tira bird ; and I recollect, on our 

 expedition to Navarro, we found them very dis- 

 agreeable. Their nests being near our path, 

 they frequently flew almost into our faces, with 

 rage at our supposed invasion of their posses- 

 sions, and accompanied this manoeuvre with a 

 screeching that was most tormenting and grating 

 to the ear. 



We reached the post-house by eleven at nighty 

 after a journey of ninety-three miles : and glad 

 enough we were of food and repose. For the 

 former we had to wait a long time, as nobody 

 was awake when we arrived. M'Lean and I made 

 our beds on the two hide catres in the hut. Don 

 Joachim Rodriguez (for that is the name of our 

 military friend) and the servant, preferred the 

 piazza outside, and had begun already to sleep 

 on their reeados, when a woman appeared with 



