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
It was very interesting to watch them all, and to observes their ways
and manners. There was plenty of opportunity to do this, as after the
foals were branded we did not let them go until between three and four
o'clock. When at last they were turned loose, they did not let the grass
grow under their feet, but soon divided themselves off more or less into
their own lots, and with their own companions. Indeed, had they been
looked up early on the following morning they would have probably been
found feeding more or less together in the same groups, and on the same
particular part of the estancia where we had originally found them. The
weather had now become quite hot again, and we had continual sunshine
for nearly a fortnight. There was a stone puesto about half way between
the Cerro and the "Pass of the Pichinango," where an old negro called
Tio Benigno lived, looking after a flock of sheep. He was now dead, and
the flock had been removed, but his so-called widow, black like himself,
was still living on there, with a numerous progeny of various sorts and
sizes, almost destitute of clothes who ran in and out of the abode like
rabbits, when anyone happened to ride up. They seemed to be living on
the rations which had been allowed to the departed parent, which were
still being allowed to them. Don Frederico would have been glad if I
could have got them to leave the puesto altogether, but the question was
where were they to go? I was riding down to La Concordia during the
siesta when I saw a peculiar sight. As I was about to cross the Canyada
Grande, a short way further up the stream, the black lady was sitting
astride an old dun horse, short both of mane and tail in the middle of a
large pool, with a fishing rod in her hand, apparently intent on
fishing. Of clothes she had none. Such garments as she possessed lay in
a heap on the bank by the water. Her black skin fairly shone and
glistened in the sunshine. On her head was an old black silk top hat,
which also reflected the rays of light. It had doubtless been a gift to
her departed husband from one of the young Englishmen who might have
been staying at the Cerro, presumably with no idea, however, that it
would be put to its present use. The lady saw me pass, but did not
appear in the least to mind. She simply gave a broad grin, and leaving
her to pursue her peaceful occupation, I passed on my way. Not very long
afterwards someone who had known her husband asked her to go and keep an
eye on quite a small lot of sheep, and also to act as "lavandera," or
washer-woman, as well. So I persuaded her not to lose the opportunity of
changing her abode, and gladly sent a cart to move such belongings as
she had. Indeed, I was glad to have the puesto empty, for it was in the
direct route along which soldiers would pass coming from the town of
Colla, and going north, and it seemed better that they should have the
road clear in front of them. Rumour in time of revolution was always
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account