Blanco y Colorado: Old Days among the Gauchos of UruguayTetley, William C.
History
Blanco y Colorado: Old Days among the Gauchos of Uruguay
Tetley, William C.
Uruguay -- Description and travel; Uruguay -- Social life and customs
The sheep travelled down well. Bent brought his two horses with him,
riding one and leading the other as a pack-horse with his things. "Bob,"
of course, followed, greatly interested, behind the sheep; indeed, he
seemed to enjoy the excitement of making the move. "Napoleon" gave him
an affectionate welcome, for they had always been friends. On the
Tuesday I put together my things. Royd kindly said he would send the
native peon with me, who could lead the extra horse which was to carry
them, and then bring him back afterwards. Anything I could not take was
put into a big box, which was to be sent to Saballa's pulperia by the
first cart which might pass, whence I could easily get it brought on to
the "Cerro." I took my Colts revolver and all my cartridges with me,
also my "Service" rifle, which I had given to me just as I was leaving
England, and I found I could pack all I was likely to need for the
present quite easily in two large bundles, which could be fixed on
either side of the "recado," on the led horse. The peon took a large
pair of saddle-bags for me on the horse he rode, and I had a smaller
pair on mine. Wednesday morning, June 15th, proved fine, the sun shining
in a clear sky. So I bid adieu to Royd and Bent and Francisco, and with
many good wishes from them all, mounted "Carnival," accompanied by
Napoleon, and duly followed the native peon who, with the pack-horse
behind him, had already made a start. And so I bid adieu not without
regret to "Las Sierras de Mal Abrigo," for I had been very happy there,
and as I passed along my way it seemed to me, at any rate for the time
being, a step into the great unknown. When we arrived at the "Cerro del
Pichinango" I was received by an Englishman called Robinson, who acted
as cook and general caretaker inside the house. He soon got me some food
and coffee ready, and he also found something to eat for the man who had
come with me. There were three peones, or out-door servants about; an
uncle, and two of his nephews. They were natives of Uruguay, but by
parentage were Indians of the Pampas, which also showed very clearly in
their countenances. I wrote a message to Royd on a piece of paper, which
I gave to the peon for him, just to say I had arrived all right.
Meantime I had unsaddled "Carnival," and tied him up in a grass-covered
court or enclosure, surrounded by a high stone wall, where there were
also several trees and two large iron gates at the bottom, which were
usually kept locked. The house itself certainly looked imposing. It was
built the whole width of the upper end of the court, and was divided
into two parts by a high stone archway, the front of which stood level
with the court, while the back led direct into the large "galpon," or
wool-shed, which was joined to the house its full length behind, with
two large openings on its outer side, closed by wide wooden doors, both
ends being quite shut in. The house had nine rooms, large and small;
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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