IV 
GENERAL ROSAS 
77 
of the Gauchos, he has obtained an unbounded popularity in 
the country, and in consequence a despotic power. I was 
assured by an English merchant, that a man who had murdered 
another, when arrested and questioned concerning his motive, 
answered, “ He spoke disrespectfully of General Rosas, so I 
killed him.” At the end of a week the murderer was at 
liberty. This doubtless was the act of the general’s party, 
and not of the general himself. 
In conversation he is enthusiastic, sensible, and very grave. 
His gravity is carried to a high pitch : I heard one of his mad 
buffoons (for he keeps two, like the barons of old) relate the 
following anecdote : “ I wanted very much to hear a certain 
piece of music, so I went to the general two or three times to 
ask him ; he said to me, c Go about your business, for I am 
engaged.’ I went a second time ; he said, ‘ If you come again 
I will punish you.’ A third time I asked, and he laughed. 
I rushed out of the tent, but it was too late ; he ordered two 
soldiers to catch and stake me. I begged by all the Saints in 
heaven he would let me off; but it would not do ;—when the 
general laughs he spares neither mad man nor sound.” The 
poor flighty gentleman looked quite dolorous at the very recol¬ 
lection of the staking. This is a very severe punishment; four 
posts are driven into the ground, and the man is extended by 
his arms and legs horizontally, and there left to stretch for 
several hours. The idea is evidently taken from the usual 
method of drying hides. My interview passed away without 
a smile, and I obtained a passport and order for the govern¬ 
ment post-horses, and this he gave me in the most obliging 
and ready manner. 
In the morning we started for Bahia Blanca, which we 
reached in two days. Leaving the regular encampment, we 
passed by the toldos of the Indians. These are round like 
ovens, and covered with hides ; by the mouth of each, a 
tapering chuzo was stuck in the ground. The toldos were 
divided into separate groups, which belonged to the different 
caciques’ tribes, and the groups were again divided into smaller 
ones, according to the relationship of the owners. For several 
miles we travelled along the valley of the Colorado. The 
alluvial plains on the side appeared fertile, and it is supposed 
that they are well adapted to the growth of corn. 
