On the second, the showers ceased, but constant rain for thirty days had entirely inundated the country, which is naturally plain and level. For three weeks we had to ride on horseback with the water touching our legs, and often reaching up to our knees. That the continual wet might be the sooner exhaled, we always rode barefoot, hanging our shoes and stockings from the top of the saddle: for the water contained within the shoes causes faintings, weakness of stomach, small ulcers, head-ache, and other disorders in America. We found chewed tobacco leaves, mixed with saliva, and applied every night to the soles of our feet, a powerful preservative against this noxious moisture. On the same account it was thought useful to smoke tobacco. We were obliged to pass the night in the cold air, often covered from head to foot with hoar frost, which was almost continual at that time of the year. When we wanted to lie down at night, much art and good fortune were requisite to choose a situation, which, though very muddy, had but little water. We were obliged to swim, or sail on the pelota across some rivers, which had overflowed their banks; but it was a matter of more time and labour to convey to the other side huge waggons, and some thousands of sheep, oxen, and horses, without the assistance of a bridge or boat. Some soldiers, weary of travelling, deserted from us. One, who was particularly eager to get home, endeavoured to accelerate his return by a great piece of villainy. He knew that they would be detained a long time in building the new colony, and, resolving to disconcert the whole scheme, persuaded the Abipones, under a show of kindness and compassion, to return to their native soil, affirming that Barreda's only motive in removing them from thence, was to furnish himself with an opportunity of surprizing and slaying them with impunity. The asseverations of this wicked man found the readier credit with the Abipones, from their constantly having this suspicion impressed upon their minds. Next day, when we began to proceed on our journey, not one of the Abipones was seen to stir. Barreda, astonished at this sudden tergiversation, inquires the cause, but receives no answer; till at last a woman, who had long been in captivity amongst the Spaniards, makes known the soldier's impudent discourse, but could be induced by no solicitations to discover the man's name. Barreda, after threatening this most abandoned of mankind, whoever he was, with a thousand deaths, reproached Malakin for his ridiculous credulity, and that he might be prevailed upon to pursue his journey by some new testimony of friendship, made him a present of the silver clasps that fastened his shirt-sleeves, having nothing else left to give. This bauble proved as potent as the coverlet had done, and induced the deserting Indians to follow us. But here too we found that violent affections are but of short duration. The nearer