Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Introduction
- Descriptive Outline of the Pampas &c. &c.
- The Town of Buenos Aires
- Mode of Travelling
- Town of San Luis
- Journey to the Gold Mines and Lavaderos of La Carolina
- Mendoza
- The Pampas
- The Pampas Indians
- Passage Across the Great Cordillera
- Convent at Santiago
- Journey to the Gold Mine of El Bronce de Petorca
- Gold Mine of Caren
- Journey to the Silver Mine of San Pedro Nolasco
- Departure from Santiago
- Return to Mendoza
- The Pampas
- A Few General Observations Respecting the Working of Mines in South America
- Conclusion
- Frontmatter
- Introduction
- Descriptive Outline of the Pampas &c. &c.
- The Town of Buenos Aires
- Mode of Travelling
- Town of San Luis
- Journey to the Gold Mines and Lavaderos of La Carolina
- Mendoza
- The Pampas
- The Pampas Indians
- Passage Across the Great Cordillera
- Convent at Santiago
- Journey to the Gold Mine of El Bronce de Petorca
- Gold Mine of Caren
- Journey to the Silver Mine of San Pedro Nolasco
- Departure from Santiago
- Return to Mendoza
- The Pampas
- A Few General Observations Respecting the Working of Mines in South America
- Conclusion
Summary
I waited some time at the post-hut, talking with the old lady, who was always very kind and glad to see me, and was also extremely clever and entertaining; I then mounted my horse, and, after galloping nearly an hour, I overtook the coach just as it had reached the banks of the river Desaguadero, which was unusually deep and rapid. There was nothing but a small bark, but we lost no time in filling it with the luggage, and then made preparations for dragging the carriage through the river. I took off my clothes, and throwing them into the boat, I tied a silk handkerchief round my neck, and put my watch there to keep it dry. I had my pistols in my right hand, and I then rode into the river. The horse was instantly out of his depth, but he swam over very well. Just as I had scrambled up the bank, a man, dressed in a dirty-looking poncho, who lived in a hut about a hundred yards off, came up and asked to be paid for the boat; I told him I would pay him as soon as the coach was over, and I asked him to take care of my pistols for me, and he accordingly took them to his hut.
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- Information
- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1826