direction through the Pampas would cut through some skeleton or bones.
Besides those which I found during my short excursions, I heard of many
others, and the origin of such names as "the stream of the animal,"
"the hill of the giant," is obvious. At other times I heard of the
marvellous property of certain rivers, which had the power of changing
small bones into large; or, as some maintained, the bones themselves
grew. As far as I am aware, not one of these animals perished, as was
formerly supposed, in the marshes or muddy river-beds of the present
land, but their bones have been exposed by the streams intersecting the
subaqueous deposit in which they were originally embedded. We may
conclude that the whole area of the Pampas is one wide sepulchre of
these extinct gigantic quadrupeds.
By the middle of the day, on the 28th, we arrived at Monte Video,
having been two days and a half on the road. The country for the whole
way was of a very uniform character, some parts being rather more rocky
and hilly than near the Plata. Not far from Monte Video we passed
through the village of Las Pietras, so named from some large rounded
masses of syenite. Its appearance was rather pretty. In this country
a few fig-trees round a group of houses, and a site elevated a hundred
feet above the general level, ought always to be called picturesque.
During the last six months I have had an opportunity of seeing a little
of the character of the inhabitants of these provinces. The Gauchos,
or countryrmen, are very superior to those who reside in the towns. The
Gaucho is invariably most obliging, polite, and hospitable: I did not
meet with even one instance of rudeness or inhospitality. He is
modest, both respecting himself and country, but at the same time a
spirited, bold fellow. On the other hand, many robberies are
committed, and there is much bloodshed: the habit of constantly wearing
the knife is the chief cause of the latter. It is lamentable to hear
how many lives are lost in trifling quarrels. In fighting, each party
tries to mark the face of his adversary by slashing his nose or eyes;
as is often attested by deep and horrid-looking 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,
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