LUXAN. 



259 



who were returning on horseback to their 

 brother's house. This is at a village called 

 Luxan, which we did not reach till after 

 dark ; for we rode very slowly. The house 

 is like a large English farm-buildings with a 

 yard walled all rounds which we entered by 

 a large, strong wooden gate. The family 

 consists of an old mother^ her sons,, and three 

 daughters. We supped and passed the night 

 with them. They made us clean beds, on 

 the dry earthen embankments raised against 

 the walls of the room 5 all rounds like broad 

 benches. 



We had a good deal of conversation on the 

 politics of Mendoza^ and the prosperous state 

 of its agriculture ; and some long stories were 

 told about the Indians. The old lady said she 

 recollected a family of her acquaintance^ of 

 fifteen in number,, all of whom escaped from 



