VOYAGE TO PANAMA. 



horse^ a kiiife^ a lasso^ and a guitar, which they 

 all seem to delight in, he considers himself 

 among the independent sons of earth, and 

 beyond the caprices of fortune. As for his 

 appetite, that costs him neither pains nor 

 trouble to gratify ; a piece of mutton or beef is 

 so cheap as to be had for almost nothing, if not 

 of the first quality ; and I may add that, as for 

 mutton, there is now an ancient decree in the 

 archives of Buenos Ayres, emanating from the 

 King of Spain, by which the gauchos are for- 

 bidden to drive flocks of sheep alive into the 

 brick-kilns for fuel, and are enjoined to kill 

 them first for this purpose. What more need 

 be said for the cheapness of mutton 



14th. — Last night I was awakened by every 

 description of noise in the streets, from the 

 piazzas, and on the tops of the houses. This 



* The little boys at Buenos Ayres not only eat mutton 

 but ride upon sheep. 



