THE PAMPAS. 



197 



to three, in summer, that this climate is ex- 

 ceedingly hot, and even then the breeze blows 

 continually. In spite of guayaquil hats, mous- 

 taches, and beards, our faces resemble, in 

 colour, the complexion of the natives. The 

 want of a good washing, too, has not a little 

 contributed to the darkness of our skins, and 

 transformed us both into swarthy gauchos. 



The long grass we found, to-day, burnt white 

 by the heat, and intersected by deep rutty 

 paths, troublesome to ride in. We started 

 an iguana or great lizard out of one of these, 

 which ran before us very quickly. It was 

 about a yard long, and had, to me, all the 

 appearance of a young crocodile. We also 

 saw some scissor birds. Their long tails open 

 and shut as they are flying, just like a pair of 

 scissors ; in other respects they resemble a 

 swallow. Vultures abound, especially in the 



