Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-10-18
A SOUTH AmERroAs soENH.

The Great Salt Plains OF tho Hn-
terior-'rr0ops Of Flamingocs.
Henri LetuIque In Detroit Free Pres
Twas O'Clock In the afternoon; Loan
nec marched at the head OF our little
troop. s10h, look look ut tine snow !"
he exclaimed, ct the moment when leay-
ing the valley of Oondors, we we're about
to enter the plain. Snow in the month
of March In the southern hemisphere!
We thought our companion must have
had sudden sunstroke; that would not
have been at all impossible, for the heat
in this valley was torrid-f one might
give the name valley TO the large open
ing bordered with enormous rocks whoss
broken fragments strewed the ground es
IL to hinder us In our march, and keep
us longer in this cursed pass, where veg
citation is only represented by gigantic
lichens, whose silVery threads could
hardly be distinguished from the gray
ish masssof rock to which they chung.
''Are you crazy, Losnpee," cried
Charles.
"Dame, you can see for yourselves.
II that is not snow it certainly looks OK.
actly like it; though as you get closer II Is
not cold at ALL"
The thermometer marked 75o. Scarcely
had we rejoined our comrade when we
uttered simultaneous cry OF astonish-
ment. Right before Ms, bounded only
by the horizon, stretched an immense
plain of dazzling wilderness, whose sur
face sparkled under the bright rays Of
the sun. Any one would have sworn that
1t was snow. Without nttering word,
ao al. al,
we turned to Barlejo with an air Of mute
Interrogation. II have found out what
it is" cried Lawrsnce--''it is cotton"
''But where are the cotton pickers ~
s'Yes, that is true-they are nowhere to
be seem"
The "yaqueron laughed in his sleeve;
he thoroughly enjoyed orr establishment.
"We are about to enter the grsst salt
plant" he said finally, when he thought
our patience had been sufficiently tested.
The salt plains2 Don Cabyal had
spoken to us Of them when we were dis
cussing our journey at the estaneia Of las
Jsrrillas; but our imagination had never
pictured any landscape as grandiose in
its uniformity. As far as the eye could
reach, extended an ocean OF salt, white
and sparkling as snow. Not o shadow on
/. this panorama, which reminded me Of the
immense steppeH of Siberia, when winter
has spread her immaculate winding sheet
over that kingdom of death and silence
Not spot which could break the mo
notony. "Come-encourege continued
Barlejo, sit is vile place to GROSS under
the broiling sun, which is hot enough TO
roast an or, but W. Esust get 0yse il 90.
fore nightfall, for evsn ii we sacrifice
our horses we could not think u cfia %
on the salt plains"
Sand how far across this plain ~
'tAbout twelve miles"
Twelve miles! and our poor borses
had not been able to go out OF walk all
the morning. II was the only gait poa.
sible in the valley of the Condors. Put
ting spurs to our horses we started of a,
hard gallop. The geuohos allowed Us
to take the lead. Our gallop did not lest
long. As soon az their feet touched the
salt our horses stopped as If nailed to the
ground; under their feet the salt cracked
like snow. We could only go on step BY
step. And twelve miles to make at thii
pace, when we had hoped to clear thu
plain at gallop. The heat was suffooat
ing. The reflection Of this seaof salt So
many times refined and purified by tb,
continual washing and dryings OF rain
/ and wind blinded us. To complete oul
suEe,ings the north wind, that suifucst
ing, enervetiDg wind, began to blow
We went painting through this furnace
with nothing to freshen or mitigate ia,
8ooFehing heat. The last rays OF the set
ting sun tinged with rosy hue Chi
white and naked landscape. Suddenl,
on our left appeared MAS Of fiery red
while before US long line of vivid greer
was clearly defined against the Whitenes
Of the salt. At the same moment thu
horses began to whinny--they smelt til,
wnter. Tbeir pace quickened under tht
stimulus Of this hope of soon reachin,
fresh water, as only those who have livei
in the desert can understand. Water
we we're soon to reach the water-witl
yoics and hand we encouraged the poo
animals. We were on the edge Of tn
lagoon when at word from our guild
j We stopped short. The spectacle befor
MS was Indeed enough to make Us halt
Issuing from marsh in q line lik
veteran troops OF infantry, 000 or 3 90
birds with excessively long reohs an
feet, the pldmage on their bodies Of soi
rose tint, and wings the color of fire. wer
advancing, calm, dignifed, majestic
"Los Flsmengos!" exclaimed Barlejo, a
we stepped on the ground, or rather o.
the salt,