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ACROSS PATAGONIA.


  [Illustration: CROSSING THE CABEZA DEL MARE.]


ACROSS PATAGONIA

by

LADY FLORENCE DIXIE

With Illustrations from Sketches by Julius Beerbohm
Engraved by Whymper and Pearson

[Illustration: 'PUCHO.']







London:
Richard Bentley and Son
Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen
1880

The rights of Translation and Reproduction are reserved.

Printed by R. & R. Clark, Edinburgh.




     TO
     HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS,
     ALBERT EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES,

     THIS WORK
     DESCRIPTIVE OF
     SIX MONTHS' WANDERINGS OVER UNEXPLORED
     AND UNTRODDEN GROUND,
     IS BY KIND PERMISSION RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
     BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS'S
     OBLIGED AND OBEDIENT SERVANT,

     THE AUTHOR.




CONTENTS.


    CHAPTER I.

    WHY PATAGONIA?--GOOD-BYE--THE START--DIRTY WEATHER--
    LISBON--THE ISLAND OF PALMA--PERNAMBUCO                Pages 1-11


    CHAPTER II.

    BAHIA--RIO DE JANEIRO--RIO HARBOUR--THE TOWN--AN
    UPSET--TIJUCA--A TROPICAL NIGHT--MORE UPSETS--SAFETY
    AT LAST                                                     12-25


    CHAPTER III.

    BEAUTIES OF RIO--MONTE VIDEO--STRAITS OF MAGELLAN--
    TIERRA DEL FUEGO--ARRIVAL AT SANDY POINT--PREPARATIONS
    FOR THE START--OUR OUTFIT--OUR GUIDES                       26-39


    CHAPTER IV.

    THE START FOR CAPE <DW64>--RIDING ALONG THE STRAITS--CAPE
    <DW64>--THE FIRST NIGHT UNDER CANVAS--UNEXPECTED
    ARRIVALS--OUR GUESTS--A NOVEL PICNIC--ROUGH RIDING--
    THERE WAS A SOUND OF REVELRY BY NIGHT Pages                 40-51


    CHAPTER V.

    DEPARTURE OF OUR GUESTS--THE START FOR THE PAMPAS--AN
    UNTOWARD ACCIDENT--A DAY'S SPORT--UNPLEASANT EFFECTS OF
    THE WIND--OFF CAPE GREGORIO.                                52-61


    CHAPTER VI.

    VISIT TO THE INDIAN CAMP--A PATAGONIAN--INDIAN CURIOSITY
    --PHYSIQUE--COSTUME--WOMEN--PROMINENT CHARACTERISTICS
    --AN INDIAN INCROYABLE--SUPERSTITIOUSNESS                   62-73


    CHAPTER VII.

    THE PRAIRIE FIRE                                            74-80


    CHAPTER VIII.

    UNPLEASANT VISITORS--"SPEED THE PARTING GUEST"--OFF
    AGAIN--AN OSTRICH EGG--I'ARIA MISLEADS US--STRIKING
    OIL--PREPARATIONS FOR THE CHASE--WIND AND HAIL--A
    GUANACO AT LAST--AN EXCITING RUN--THE DEATH--HOME--
    HUNGRY AS HUNTERS--"FAT-BEHIND-THE-EYE."                    81-99


    CHAPTER IX.

    ELASTIC LEAGUES--THE LAGUNA BLANCA--AN EARTHQUAKE--
    OSTRICH-HUNTING                                           100-115


    CHAPTER X.

    DEPARTURE FROM LAGUNA BLANCA--A WILD-CAT--IBIS SOUP--A
    FERTILE CANYADON--INDIAN LAW AND EQUITY--OUR FIRST PUMA
    --COWARDICE OF THE PUMA--DISCOMFORTS OF A WET NIGHT--A
    MYSTERIOUS DISH--A GOOD RUN Pages                         116-127


    CHAPTER