The legendary consisting of original pieces, principally illustrative of American history, scenery, and manners |
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THE PAMPAS PLAINS OF BUENOS AYRES. |
 | THE PAMPAS PLAINS OF BUENOS AYRES. The legendary |  |
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THE PAMPAS PLAINS OF BUENOS AYRES.
BY I. M'LELLAN.
The Indians of whom I heard the most, were those who inhabit
the vast unknown plains of the Pampas, and who are all horsemen,
or rather pass their lives on horseback. The occupation of their
lives is war, which they consider as their noble and most natural
employment; and they declare, that the proudest attitude of the
human figure is, when bending over his horse, man is riding at his
enemy.
Head's Journey over the Pampas and Andes.
How calmly sleeps the desert! bright
At times comes down the dim moonlight;
And then yon sailing moon like gold,
Dips in the huge cloud's blackened fold,
And night's broad pinions, far and near,
Darken the midnight atmosphere;
Yet still those diamond stars on high
Kindle the white frost brilliantly.
Now stand we in the desert's heart,
From all the peaceful world apart;
Here is the roving Indian's land,
And here by their watchfires, a band
Of those fierce red men, strown around,
Dream on their chilly couch, the ground.
See, as the torch flames fiercely glow,
The stern scowl on each swarthy brow!
How strange and wild a scene! lo, here
Glitters the Indian's ponderous spear;
And there the flickering flames reveal
The broad and sharpened battle steel;
At times comes down the dim moonlight;
And then yon sailing moon like gold,
Dips in the huge cloud's blackened fold,
And night's broad pinions, far and near,
Darken the midnight atmosphere;
Yet still those diamond stars on high
Kindle the white frost brilliantly.
Now stand we in the desert's heart,
From all the peaceful world apart;
Here is the roving Indian's land,
And here by their watchfires, a band
Of those fierce red men, strown around,
Dream on their chilly couch, the ground.
See, as the torch flames fiercely glow,
The stern scowl on each swarthy brow!
How strange and wild a scene! lo, here
Glitters the Indian's ponderous spear;
And there the flickering flames reveal
The broad and sharpened battle steel;
60
And by the embers, the hot blaze
Each warrior's huge, dark frame displays;
And at their feet the noble steed,
That mocks the winged wind in speed.
High rides the round, red moon; it shows
Dimly those white, eternal snows,
That aye, like silvery crowns, o'erspread
Each kingly mountain's breezy head.
Methinks I hear their thunders speak,
And the loud earthquake shake each peak,
And the hoar Andes' torrents bray
In their stone channels, far away.
Methinks on yon black mountain's base,
The dark Cordillera, I trace
The miner's simple hut, while high,
Reared 'mid the tempests of the sky,
Hangs the gray cross, that shows to all
Some traveller's place of burial;
And, far above the dizzy height,
The condor wheels his lonely flight.
Broad, bleak, illimitable plain!
How like unto the shoreless main!
Thy Pampas like its billows gleam,
And yon lone tree methinks doth seem
Like to some black, tall ship that rides
Alone amid the heaving tides,
And the gaunt creatures roaming free
Seem like the monsters of the sea.
And these are sons of kings—full long
They ruled these wilds—a princely throng—
Each warrior's huge, dark frame displays;
And at their feet the noble steed,
That mocks the winged wind in speed.
High rides the round, red moon; it shows
Dimly those white, eternal snows,
That aye, like silvery crowns, o'erspread
Each kingly mountain's breezy head.
Methinks I hear their thunders speak,
And the loud earthquake shake each peak,
And the hoar Andes' torrents bray
In their stone channels, far away.
Methinks on yon black mountain's base,
The dark Cordillera, I trace
The miner's simple hut, while high,
Reared 'mid the tempests of the sky,
Hangs the gray cross, that shows to all
Some traveller's place of burial;
And, far above the dizzy height,
The condor wheels his lonely flight.
Broad, bleak, illimitable plain!
How like unto the shoreless main!
Thy Pampas like its billows gleam,
And yon lone tree methinks doth seem
Like to some black, tall ship that rides
Alone amid the heaving tides,
And the gaunt creatures roaming free
Seem like the monsters of the sea.
And these are sons of kings—full long
They ruled these wilds—a princely throng—
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And each led on his thousand spears,
To scourge the land in those old years,
And these their children bear the same
Bold hearts, strong hands, and swords of flame—
The ostrich and the tiger quail
When their free shouts are on the gale.
To scourge the land in those old years,
And these their children bear the same
Bold hearts, strong hands, and swords of flame—
The ostrich and the tiger quail
When their free shouts are on the gale.
| THE PAMPAS PLAINS OF BUENOS AYRES. The legendary | |