At one house a young woman who was ill in bed, sent to entreat me to come and show her the compass.

If their surprise was great, mine was greater, to find such ignorance among people who possessed their thousands of cattle, and "estancias" of great extent.

It can only be accounted for by the circumstance that this retired part of the country is seldom visited by foreigners.

I was asked whether the earth or sun moved; whether it was hotter or colder to the north; where Spain was, and many other such questions.

The greater number of the inhabitants had an indistinct idea that England, London, and North America, were different names for the same place; but the better informed well knew that London and North America were separate countries close together, and that England was a large town in London! I carried with me some promethean matches, which I ignited by biting; it was thought so wonderful that a man should strike fire with his teeth, that it was usual to collect the whole family to see it: I was once offered a dollar for a single one.