THE PAMPAS. 



187 



Indians, about fifty in number, had made an 

 attack upon the corals close to the huts, at 

 three o'clock in the daytime. The terrified 

 inhabitants shut themselves up in their houses., 

 not without fear that they would be burnt over 

 their heads. But the Indians, as they supposed, 

 either suspecting that there were troops at 

 hand, or satisfied with their plunder, abandoned 

 all pursuit of the inhabitants, drove the horses 

 out of the corals, and seized those that were 

 saddled and bridled at the doors of the houses, 

 — where some are always standing in readiness 

 for mounting. After this exploit, which was 

 witnessed by the despoiled from the chinks of 

 their mud dwellings, the Indians galloped off 

 with their booty, and are probably now at an 

 immense distance, committing some other rob- 

 bery. Great excitement still prevailed among 

 the poor gauchos and their families, who had 



