Tuesday, March 4, 2014

My Year of Darwin 3/4/2014: meeting Gauchos

 Charles Darwin

"During the evening a great number of Gauchos came in to drink spirits and smoke cigars: their appearance is very striking; they are generally tall and handsome, but with a proud and dissolute expression of countenance. They frequently wear their moustaches, and long black hair curling down their backs. With their brightly coloured garments, great spurs clanking about their heels, and knives stuck as daggers (and often so used) at their waists, they look a very different race of men from what might be expected from their name of Gauchos, or simple countrymen. Their politeness is excessive; they never drink their spirits without expecting you to taste it; but whilst making their exceedingly graceful bow, they seem quite as ready, if occasion offered, to cut your throat." Charles Darwin, Voyage of the Beagle

Darwin is in Uruguay on the bay where the Rio Plata meets the Atlantic. I don't have anything to add.
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It's single digits this morning. I still have to finish off edits to a paper and work on a book chapter that's all overdue. It's our spring break so trying to get this all done. 

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