186 



JOURNEY ACROSS 



loads smoking, whilst they goaded the cat- 

 tle, with an immense long pole pointed at 

 one end, which reached to the quarters of the 

 furthest pair of beasts, and traversed from 

 side to side of the waggon by means of a rope, 

 by which it was suspended from the roof. The 

 whole spectacle was very wild and uncouth. 



We tally-hoed a gray fox from a tuft of grass. 

 What a run we should have had with a pack of 

 hounds ! 



At this post there are no reports of Indians. 



30th. — Before we reached the post-house 

 where we slept last night, we came to one called 

 Esquina de la Guardia. We found this to be a 

 collection of huts, one of which was a shop full 

 of French goods and was kept by a Frenchman, 

 who had a fancy for living in such wild places, — 

 where, at least, he meets with no competitors. 

 We learnt here, that only two days before, the 



