On approaching the house of a stranger, it is usual to follow several little points of etiquette: riding up slowly to the door, the salutation of Ave Maria is given, and until somebody comes out and asks you to alight, it is not customary even to get off your horse: the formal answer of the owner is, "sin pecado concebida"-- that is, conceived without sin.

Having entered the house, some general conversation is kept up for a few minutes, till permission is asked to pass the night there.

This is granted as a matter of course.

The stranger then takes his meals with the family, and a room is assigned him, where with the horsecloths belonging to his recado (or saddle of the Pampas) he makes his bed.

It is curious how similar circumstances produce such similar results in manners.