4th November 1832

Buenos Ayres

Walked into several of the Churches & admired the brilliancy of the decorations for which the city is celebrated. It is impossible not to respect the fervour which appears to reign during the Catholic service as compared with the Protestant. The effect is heightened by the equality of all ranks. The Spanish Lady with her brilliant shawl is kneels by the side of her black servant in the open aisle.

I visited the Museum, which is attached to the only remaining convent; although esteemed as second to none by the inhabitants it is very poor. In the evening went out riding with Hamond; we saw the first starting of a troop of waggons for Mendoza. Changing the bullocks, they travel day & night, but even with this it takes 50 days. These waggons are very narrow & long, they are thatched with reeds & stand on wheels, the diameter of which is 10 feet. They are drawn by 6 bullocks, which are urged on by a goad at least twenty feet long. it is suspended within the roof, so that it can be easily used. The point is sharp & for the intermediate bullocks a small point projects downwards. For the wheel bullocks a short goad is kept in the waggon. All this apparatus at first looks like implements of war.