'THE PAMPAS. 



225 



from Buenos Ayres. Next followed all the 

 authorities and principal inhabitants of the 

 town, whose curiosity to see an arrival from 

 Buenos Ayres overcame all scruples about inter- 

 rupting the repose of three worn-out travellers ; 

 and it was past midnight before we had supped, 

 upon very ordinary fare, and were permitted to 

 spread our blankets on the mud floor, and enjoy 

 a short sleep. 



Early in the morning the colonel, with whom 

 we had ingratiated ourselves, offered us a dra- 

 goon to escort us to Mendoza ; the distance now 

 being two hundred and forty-six miles. By a 

 further act of kindness, he obtained for us from 

 the governor, a passport which would oblige the 

 postmasters every where on the road to furnish 

 us with horses, on presenting them with a 

 written order for payment on the treasury of 

 St. Luis. 



