BANDA ORIENTAL 
CHAP. 
166 
his nose or eyes ; as is often attested by deep and horrid-look¬ 
ing scars. Robberies are a natural consequence of universal 
gambling, much drinking, and extreme indolence. At Mercedes 
I asked two men why they did not work. One gravely said 
the days were too long ; the other that he was too poor. The 
number of horses and the profusion of food are the destruction 
of all industry. Moreover, there are so many feast-days ; and 
again, nothing can succeed without it be begun when the moon 
is on the increase ; so that half the month is lost from these 
two causes. 
Police and justice are quite inefficient. If a man who is 
poor commits murder and is taken, he will be imprisoned, and 
perhaps even shot; but if he is rich and has friends, he may 
rely on it no very severe consequence will ensue. It is curious 
that the most respectable inhabitants of the country invariably 
assist a murderer to escape: they seem to think that the 
individual sins against the government, and not against the 
people. A traveller has no protection besides his firearms ; 
and the constant habit of carrying them is the main check to 
more frequent robberies. 
The character of the higher and more educated classes who 
reside in the towns, partakes, but perhaps in a lesser degree, of 
the good parts of the Gaucho, but is, I fear, stained by many 
vices of which he is free. Sensuality, mockery of all religion, 
and the grossest corruption, are far from uncommon. Nearly 
every public officer can be bribed. The head man in the post- 
office sold forged government franks. The governor and prime 
minister openly combined to plunder the State. Justice, where 
gold came into play, was hardly expected by any one. I knew 
an Englishman who went to the Chief Justice (he told me that, 
not then understanding the ways of the place, he trembled as 
he entered the room) and said, “ Sir, I have come to offer you 
two hundred (paper) dollars (value about five pounds sterling) 
if you will arrest before a certain time a man who has cheated 
me. I know it is against the law, but my lawyer (naming him) 
recommended me to take this step.” The Chief Justice smiled 
acquiescence, thanked him, and the man before night was safe in 
prison. With this entire want of principle in many of the leading 
men, with the country full of ill-paid turbulent officers, the people 
yet hope that a democratic form of government can succeed ! 
