whose Ivindness and liospitality, during my stay in the
country, I was greatly indebted.
The city of Buenos Ayres is large*; and I should think
one of the most regular in the world. Every street is at
right angles to the one it crosses, and the parallel ones being
equidistant, the houses are collected into solid squares of
equal dimensions, which are called quadras. On the
other hand, the houses themselves are hollow squares; all
the rooms opening into a neat little courtyard. They are
generally only one story high, with flat roofs, which are fitted
with seats, and are much frequented by the inhabitants in
summer. In the centre of the town is the Plaza, where the
public offices, fortress, cathedral, &o., stand. Here also,
the old viceroys, before the revolution, had their palaces.
The general assemblage of buildings possesses considerable
architectural beauty, although none individually can boast
of any.
The great corral where the animals are kept for slaughter
to supply food to this beef-eating population, is one of the
spectacles best worth seeing. The strength of the horse
as compared to that of the bullock is quite astonishing: a
man on horseback having thrown his lazo round the horns
of a beast, can drag it any where he chooses. The animal
having ploughed up the ground with outstretched legs, in
vain efforts to resist the force, generally dashes at full speed to
one side ; but the horse immediately turning to receive the
shock, stands so firmly, that the bullock is almost thrown
down, and one would think, would certainly have its neck
dislocated. The struggle is not, however, one of fair strength;
the horse’s girth being matched against the huUock’s extended
neck. In a similar manner a man can hold the
wildest horse, if caught with the lazo, just behind the ears.
When the bullock has been dragged to the spot where it is
to be slaughtered, the matador with great caution cuts the
hamstrings. Then is given the death bellow; a noise more
* I s sa id to c o n ta in 6 0 ,0 0 0 in h a b ita n ts . M o n te Vid eo , th e s e co n d
tow n o f im p o rta n c e o n tlie b a n k s o f th e P la ta , h a s 15,000.
expressive of fierce agony than any I know : I have often
distinguished it from a long distance, and have always known
that the struggle was then drawing to a close. The whole
sight is horrible and revolting, the ground is almost made of
bones ; and the horses, and riders are drenched with gore.
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