Chapter 8

The demerits of the West Indies classified--The utter ruin of St. Pierre--The Empress Josephine--A transplanted brogue--Vampires--Lost in a virgin forest--Dictator-Presidents, Castro and Rosas--The mentality of a South American--"The Liberator"--The Basques and their national game--Love of English people for foreign words--Yellow fever--Life on an Argentina _estancia_--How cattle are worked--The lasso and the "bolas"--Ostriches--Venomous toads--The youthful rough-rider--His methods--Fuel difficulties--The vast plains--The wonderful bird-life