their
graves."

I afterwards found that the Indian had been drinking a powerful
narcotic, prepared from the thorn-apple, and which is called
_huacacachu_, or grave-plant, from the power it is supposed to possess
of enabling those who drink it to see the inhabitants of the graves.
After the Indian had been some time convulsed he fell into a profound
slumber, when his friends covered him up carefully with their mantles
and left him.

Our meal was scarcely over when the clattering of horses' feet was heard
on the road, and by the sound I judged that a band of horsemen had
ridden up to the _tambo_. Our Indian host rushed out with dismay on his
countenance. I followed him to learn what was the matter; and by the
light of the moon, just then risen over the mountains, I saw about as
ugly a set of fellows as I ever encountered. Their countenances were of
every hue--black, yellow, and olive, disfigured by scars and savage
passions. Their garments, I cannot call them uniforms, of many a shape
and colour, were in rags and tatters. The horses were weary,
ill-conditioned and ill-groomed, and as miserably accoutred as their
riders, with a look in the eye full of vicious meaning. They were armed
with short carbines and long swords, and some had pistols and daggers in
their belts.

"Los Montoneros, los Montoneros!" exclaimed several of the people behind
me, and rushed back into the _tambo_, the women trying to hide
themselves from the new-comers.

The horsemen threw themselves from their jaded hacks, and calling to the
Indians to take charge of them, with scant ceremony entered the
building. They regarded, as they did so, my father and me, and our
servants, with no favourable eye; but after a moment's hesitation, they
threw themselves on the benches before the table at which we were
seated, crying loudly for food and liquor. It was speedily placed
before them by the trembling hands of the host; and in silence they
addressed themselves to the tearing the meat with their fingers, as if
they had not eaten anything for a week. After imbibing quantities of
_chicha_, they lighted their cigars; and then their tongues broke loose
in a style which made us anxious to escape their neighbourhood. Some
were Spaniards, or Spanish Creoles, and others were negroes; but most of
them were of a variety of mixed races. The Montoneros are notoriously
robbers in time of peace, and soldiers in war; but from the expressions
they let fall, we