FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   113   114   115   116   >>  
pebbles were in a similar manner aggregated, at a period when the great calcareous formation was depositing beneath the surrounding sea. We may believe that the jagged and battered forms of the hard quartz yet show the effects of the waves of an open ocean. I was, on the whole, disappointed with this ascent. Even the view was insignificant;--a plain like the sea, but without its beautiful colour and defined outline. The scene, however, was novel, and a little danger, like salt to meat, gave it a relish. That the danger was very little was certain, for my two companions made a good fire--a thing which is never done when it is suspected that Indians are near. I reached the place of our bivouac by sunset, and drinking much mat,, and smoking several cigaritos, soon made up my bed for the night. The wind was very strong and cold, but I never slept more comfortably. SEPTEMBER 10, 1833. In the morning, having fairly scudded before the gale, we arrived by the middle of the day at the Sauce posta. On the road we saw great numbers of deer, and near the mountain a guanaco. The plain, which abuts against the Sierra, is traversed by some curious gulleys, of which one was about twenty feet wide, and at least thirty deep; we were obliged in consequence to make a considerable circuit before we could find a pass. We stayed the night at the posta, the conversation, as was generally the case, being about the Indians. The Sierra Ventana was formerly a great place of resort; and three or four years ago there was much fighting there. My guide had been present when many Indians were killed: the women escaped to the top of the ridge, and fought most desperately with great stones; many thus saving themselves. SEPTEMBER 11, 1833. Proceeded to the third posta in company with the lieutenant who commanded it. The distance is called fifteen leagues; but it is only guess-work, and is generally overstated. The road was uninteresting, over a dry grassy plain; and on our left hand at a greater or less distance there were some low hills; a continuation of which we crossed close to the posta. Before our arrival we met a large herd of cattle and horses, guarded by fifteen soldiers; but we were told many had been lost. It is very difficult to drive animals across the plains; for if in the night a puma, or even a fox, approaches, nothing can prevent the horses dispersing in every direction; and a storm will have the same effect. A short time s
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   113   114   115   116   >>  



Top keywords:
Indians
 

fifteen

 

horses

 

SEPTEMBER

 

distance

 
danger
 
Sierra
 

generally

 
Proceeded
 

desperately


stones

 

commanded

 
company
 

lieutenant

 
saving
 

present

 
Ventana
 
resort
 

conversation

 

circuit


stayed

 

escaped

 

fought

 

killed

 

fighting

 

grassy

 

approaches

 

plains

 

difficult

 

animals


prevent

 
effect
 

dispersing

 

direction

 

considerable

 
greater
 

uninteresting

 
leagues
 

overstated

 
cattle

guarded
 

soldiers

 
arrival
 
continuation
 

crossed

 

Before

 
called
 

beautiful

 
colour
 

defined