Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-04-20

Notes on South America.

degrees south of the southernmost
limits allowed to the Tropic of Cap
ricorn, the temperature during our
time is as intensely hot as |
have ever experienced in the neighbor-
hood of the equator. The dust from
the Pampas and in the streets seems
to me one of the most peculiarly in
digenous products of this part of the
world. 1t is not heavy white sand,
but is fine, houry powder, neverthe-
less very far from being impalpable.
This is my earliest experience of the
[ was in bed on the first occasion of
my witnessing the tormenta;;' 1.-THE
word ''tormenta' is the Castilian term
for thunder storm and tempest, of
which the quantity of dust is the most
potent aggravation.) [ at once be-
came sensible of small particles of
dust being waited on the hot air. and
driven into my eyes, nose. ears and
mouth. In double quick time | heard
small pebbles rafting over the house
top or beating, inpelled by furious
wind, like hail stones against the win.
dows. The dust was coming in every.
where; it covered all things in the
room, and hcla me in temporary dread
as to the possibility of its being g
forewarning that chaos was coming
again. 1t burrowed under the sheets
inside Of my shirt, and down my back
making my linnen feel as though i
were made of sand paper. Then
began to imagine my body was gradu
ally becoming 5crted into grind
ing stone-gritty enough to sharper
the household knives upon. After
refreshing bath however, and night
rest, the air of the succeeding this in
parts a sensation of elasticity such d
| Rave never experienced in any othc
part of the world. 1t induced me I
/ be off for a ride, for | feel as if youn
! blood were coursing through my vein,
Into the fresh camp, where the viii
nltaJa is gliStening after yesterday
rain, the scent Of chamomile blossom
and wild vcrbenas comes stealing o
the breeze, and the bright sun make
everything glad.
Somewhat further on, and as | al
proach the solitude Of the camp.
come to an isolated rcRcho-as thel
is not the smallest portion of guilty
! ton visible around it for as great
distance as the eye can embrace
the horizons boundary. 1t is a Sma
t hut about ten feet by five, with wal
e of mud and roof of straw, but havir
t neither chimney nor window; ther
fore possessing no means of ingre
for the light of heaven, save with
f denizens through the door; these a
V a man dressed in the most perfe
l. deShabtie of a "GauchO" carmen
Il with CaStilian face, and a wom
e having long, black hair, heavy ey
E brows, low forehead, with geneI
n scowl which characterizes the Sou
n American Indian, and four young cf
t dren OF various ages, as dirty as nee
be, and having the biste expression
n countenance that is always associat
N in childhood with scanty fare. I
ID woman is sucking from a long tn
II "a bombilla) placed in a little rou
{ cup (the male) which contains an
" fusion of Yerba Or Paraguayan t
ID This seems a universal condiment
to through the country, for it is drunk
ie the rich as well as by the poor.
10 furniture is in the house, save two I
- vable beds which are standing
If against the wall. The woman is st
be ed on a cowskuIl, which is the O
re seat on the premises. A huge pi
rs Of raw beef hangs from the roof, ;
p outside are four dogs that barked
~ my approach with as much vigor a
on they were guarding her majesty's n
Sc instead Of the miserable collecti
I'm before me. Every day the man ri
~ with a piece of raw beef to his ia
AZ ly, and this of course is cooked
TX some way, but without the accom-
ice niment of bread, salt, or any kline
or vegetable, constitutes the sole sus
ance of the family. Yet the cows
on
49, was vacated for me with an invita-
ay to get off my horse. / was offere
IN "male," and had there been anvil
re- else in the house it would as SUI
'le have been placed at my dispose
- Here | have before me conyin,
.ho proof of the politeness and hospi
-he ty evinced every where in South
he erica. No rough-shod equestrian
oio or treading on ones neighbor's co
'u I is permitted in country wi
ox gents are unknown and gentle
| a universal, for the South Amer
gh- Spaniard of the Pampas, unlett,
our though he may be, retain all tn,
"a. ~, stinctive politeness, the frankness
cL self-possessed, yet respectful beal
do OF the parent race. He exhibits
,uf- finement of which masters of GER.