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Show 140 BUENOS AYRES. Sept. 1833. whose kindness and hospitality, 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, &c., 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 bullock'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 • Is said to contain 60,000 inhabitants. Monte Video, the second town of importance on the banks of the Plata, has 15,000. Sept. 1833·. BUENOS AYRES, 141 expressive of fierce agony than any I know: I ha ft d . . . 1 d. ve o en Istmgms 1e It from a long distance, and have always known that the struggle was then drawing to a close. The h 1 . h . h 'b w o e sig t Is orn le and revolting, the ground is almost made of bones ; and the horses, and riders are drenched with gore. |